CVE-2022-30768 in ZoneMinder
Summary
by MITRE • 11/16/2022
A Stored Cross Site Scripting (XSS) issue in ZoneMinder 1.36.12 allows an attacker to execute HTML or JavaScript code via the Username field when an Admin (or non-Admin users that can see other users logged into the platform) clicks on Logout. NOTE: this exists in later versions than CVE-2019-7348 and requires a different attack method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-30768 represents a stored cross site scripting flaw within ZoneMinder version 1.36.12 that demonstrates the persistent nature of web application security risks. This vulnerability specifically targets the Username field within the application's user management system, creating a scenario where malicious input can be permanently stored and subsequently executed when other users interact with the affected functionality. The issue arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is rendered in the application's interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain access to the ZoneMinder system with sufficient privileges to modify user information, typically through administrative or privileged user accounts. Once the malicious payload is stored in the Username field, the vulnerability becomes active when any user, regardless of their privilege level, attempts to view or interact with user session information. The specific attack vector involves the Logout functionality, where the stored malicious code executes in the context of the victim user's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data exfiltration. This stored XSS variant differs from reflected XSS in that the malicious code is permanently embedded within the application's database rather than being passed through request parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. When administrative users or other logged-in users click on Logout, their browsers execute the stored malicious JavaScript code, potentially allowing attackers to hijack sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability's persistence means that even after the initial attack, the malicious code continues to execute whenever the affected functionality is accessed, making it particularly dangerous for systems where multiple users interact with the application. This threat is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects both administrative and non-administrative users who have visibility into other logged-in users, creating a broader attack surface.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's user management components. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly in fields that are displayed in user interfaces, through proper HTML escaping and encoding techniques. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and prevent unauthorized code from running within the application context. Additionally, privilege separation and least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit the scope of potential damage from compromised accounts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of stored XSS vulnerability often indicates broader input validation weaknesses that may exist elsewhere in the codebase. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws, and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and technique T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, demonstrating how web application vulnerabilities can be leveraged for persistent access and privilege escalation within network environments.