CVE-2022-38189 in Portal for ArcGIS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2022
A stored Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Esri Portal for ArcGIS may allow a remote, authenticated attacker to pass and store malicious strings via crafted queries which when accessed could potentially execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the user’s browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2022
The stored cross site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38189 resides within Esri Portal for ArcGIS, a widely deployed geospatial platform used by organizations for mapping and spatial data management. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user sessions and data protection mechanisms within the platform. The issue manifests when authenticated users interact with the system's query functionality, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users who subsequently access the maliciously crafted content. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws, and demonstrates how insecure input handling can create persistent attack surfaces that extend beyond typical session-based threats.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of query parameters within the Esri Portal for ArcGIS interface. When an authenticated attacker crafts malicious input strings and submits them through the query mechanism, these inputs are stored within the system's database or cache without proper sanitization. The vulnerability specifically affects the system's handling of user-supplied data during query processing, where the platform fails to adequately validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable JavaScript code. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the system's data store, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. The attack chain follows the typical XSS exploitation pattern where initial injection occurs during data storage, followed by execution when legitimate users access the stored malicious content.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-38189 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive geospatial data and user sessions within the ArcGIS environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract confidential information from the portal's database. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first compromise legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage the stored XSS to maintain persistent access and escalate privileges within the geospatial platform. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the platform's data protection mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate spatial data, access restricted resources, or disrupt critical geospatial operations. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Account Access Removal" and T1071.004 which covers "Application Layer Protocol: DNS", as the exploitation could involve both session hijacking and network-based attack vectors.
Organizations utilizing Esri Portal for ArcGIS should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data within query parameters. The system should enforce strict sanitization of all input fields and implement proper content security policies to prevent script execution in user contexts. Security updates from Esri should be deployed immediately, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious query parameters. Additional protective measures include regular security assessments of the portal's query interfaces, implementation of user access controls to limit privileged actions, and monitoring for anomalous query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in enterprise GIS platforms and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of data handling mechanisms within spatial information systems.