CVE-2022-38193 in Portal for ArcGIS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2022
There is a code injection vulnerability in Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 10.8.1 and below that may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to pass strings which could potentially cause arbitrary code execution in a victims browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38193 represents a critical code injection flaw within Esri Portal for ArcGIS software versions 10.8.1 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the application's handling of user-supplied input that is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the portal's processing of strings that are passed through various interface components, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful code that can execute within victim browsers. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature significantly amplifies its threat potential, as attackers can exploit it without requiring any prior access credentials or privileged positions within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization practices within the application's core processing logic. When users interact with certain portal features, the system accepts string parameters that are directly incorporated into dynamic code execution contexts without proper encoding or escaping. This creates a classic code injection scenario where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable instructions by the browser's JavaScript engine. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into dynamic execution paths, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the victim's browser environment. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or system compromise, as it enables remote code execution within victim browsers, potentially leading to full session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that monitor user interactions, capture sensitive data, or redirect users to malicious sites. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any user who accesses the vulnerable portal could be compromised, regardless of their authentication status or role within the organization. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the portal serves as a public-facing interface or where users may access it from untrusted networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Esri Portal for ArcGIS versions 10.9.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization measures. Network segmentation and monitoring of traffic to and from the portal can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary features that accept user input can reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the ArcGIS ecosystem, as this type of code injection vulnerability often indicates broader input validation issues that may exist elsewhere in the application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when such safeguards are inadequate.