CVE-2022-41444 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cacti 1.2.21 via crafted POST request to graphs_new.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2022-41444 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw discovered in the popular network monitoring tool Cacti version 1.2.21. This security weakness specifically affects the graphs_new.php component which handles graph creation and management functionalities within the application. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious user-supplied data. When an attacker crafts a specially designed POST request containing malicious script code, the application processes this input without adequate protection measures, leading to potential code execution in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of parameters within the POST request sent to the graphs_new.php endpoint. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-controllable input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows an attacker to inject malicious javascript code that gets executed when other users view the affected graph elements. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently documented in various security frameworks and threat models.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-41444 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Since Cacti is widely used for network monitoring and system administration, successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring data. An attacker could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal administrative credentials, or even escalate privileges within the monitoring environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the monitoring system, potentially exposing sensitive network information and system configurations. The attack vector requires only a crafted POST request, making it relatively easy to exploit in environments where users might be tricked into interacting with malicious links or pages that trigger the vulnerable functionality.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest Cacti version that contains the patched code for this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being executed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious POST requests containing known XSS patterns. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers social engineering techniques, and T1059 which involves command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and ISO 27001 security standards. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the monitoring infrastructure that might present similar risks to the overall security posture.