CVE-2022-3127 in drawio
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository jgraph/drawio prior to 20.2.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3127 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the jgraph/drawio repository, a widely used diagramming application that allows users to create and share various types of diagrams through web-based interfaces. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 20.2.8, indicating that the security issue was present in the application's codebase before this particular release, leaving users exposed to potential malicious attacks through crafted input vectors that could be persistently stored within the application's data storage mechanisms.
The technical nature of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the drawio application's processing of user-supplied data. When users submit content through various input fields or import mechanisms, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious script code before storing it in its database or persistent storage systems. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed whenever other users view the affected content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, as the malicious code can be embedded within diagram files or input fields.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to credential theft, data exfiltration, defacement of user interfaces, and redirection to malicious websites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious code is injected into the system, it can affect all users who access the compromised content without requiring them to perform any additional actions. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users share diagrams and content, as a single compromised diagram can serve as a vector for widespread exploitation. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data, as attackers can manipulate the display of diagrams to show false information or steal sensitive data from authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through upgrading to version 20.2.8 or later, which would include the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the adoption of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping of user-generated content, and regular security scanning of uploaded diagrams and content. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security updates in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect and prevent the upload of potentially malicious content, as well as conducting regular security assessments of collaborative web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.