CVE-2022-34618 in Mealie
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2022
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Mealie 1.0.0beta3 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the recipe description text field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2022
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34618 affects Mealie version 1.0.0beta3, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's recipe description fields. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS variant where malicious code persists in the application's database and executes whenever the affected content is rendered to other users. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the recipe description text field processing functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing and rendering recipe descriptions. When an attacker submits a crafted payload containing malicious JavaScript code within the recipe description field, the application stores this content without adequate filtering or encoding. Subsequently, when other users view the recipe containing the malicious payload, the injected scripts execute in their browsers within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the user's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent attack vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. An attacker could craft payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a long-term threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 for Access Token Manipulation and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within user browsers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-34618 should prioritize immediate patching of the Mealie application to version 1.0.0beta4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for all user-supplied content that gets stored and displayed. The application should employ proper HTML sanitization libraries such as DOMPurify or similar tools to filter malicious content before storage. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-79 weakness through proper input sanitization and output encoding, ensuring that user-generated content cannot contain executable scripts that would compromise user sessions or data integrity.