CVE-2022-3245 in microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2022
HTML injection attack is closely related to Cross-site Scripting (XSS). HTML injection uses HTML to deface the page. XSS, as the name implies, injects JavaScript into the page. Both attacks exploit insufficient validation of user input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2022
CVE-2022-3245 represents a critical web application vulnerability that falls under the broader category of input validation flaws, specifically manifesting as HTML injection attacks that closely resemble Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) techniques. This vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of user-supplied input within web applications, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject malicious HTML content into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw operates by allowing unfiltered user input to be directly rendered within the application's output without proper encoding or sanitization mechanisms, enabling attackers to inject HTML tags and content that can alter the appearance and functionality of web pages.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious input that, when processed by the vulnerable application, gets embedded directly into HTML output streams. Unlike traditional XSS attacks that primarily focus on injecting JavaScript code, HTML injection attacks leverage HTML tags to manipulate page structure, content presentation, and user experience. This can result in defacement of web pages, redirection to malicious sites, data theft through form harvesting, or the creation of misleading content that can deceive users. The vulnerability typically manifests in web applications that fail to properly validate and sanitize user input through HTML encoding, context-aware output filtering, or comprehensive input validation routines. Common attack vectors include form fields, URL parameters, cookie values, and any user-controllable data that gets rendered in HTML context without appropriate security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-3245 extends beyond simple visual defacement, potentially enabling more sophisticated attack chains that can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation. When combined with other vulnerabilities or attack techniques, this HTML injection capability can serve as a stepping stone for more severe compromises. The vulnerability affects web applications that do not implement proper content security policies, fail to sanitize user input at multiple layers, or lack robust input validation mechanisms. Organizations using web applications without adequate HTML sanitization are particularly at risk, as attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious content that can persist across multiple user sessions and potentially affect numerous application users simultaneously.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3245 require comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that align with established security frameworks and best practices. Organizations should implement proper HTML encoding for all user-controllable data rendered in HTML contexts, utilize context-aware output encoding that varies based on the target execution context, and deploy robust input validation that filters or rejects potentially malicious content. The implementation of Content Security Policies (CSP) provides additional defense-in-depth measures that can prevent the execution of unauthorized scripts even if HTML injection occurs. Security controls should follow the principle of least privilege and ensure that user input is validated against whitelisted patterns rather than relying on blacklisting approaches that can be bypassed. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing helps identify potential injection points and ensures that proper sanitization mechanisms are in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting, and follows attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under Web Application Attack Techniques where HTML injection and XSS vulnerabilities are categorized as common initial access vectors that can lead to more sophisticated compromises.