CVE-2022-42110 in Liferay
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2022
A Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Announcements module in Liferay Portal 7.1.0 through 7.4.2, and Liferay DXP 7.1 before fix pack 27, 7.2 before fix pack 17, and 7.3 before service pack 3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the announcements module of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP platforms, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected systems. The vulnerability affects multiple versions including Liferay Portal 7.1.0 through 7.4.2 and specific DXP versions before their respective fix packs and service packs. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the announcements functionality, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML content that gets executed when other users view the announcements. This represents a classic XSS vulnerability categorized under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable content and submits it through the announcements module interface. When legitimate users browse to pages displaying the compromised announcements, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Liferay Portal serves as a central collaboration platform. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on the use of malicious code to gain unauthorized access to systems.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on Liferay Portal for business operations, as it compromises the integrity of user sessions and potentially exposes sensitive corporate data. Attackers could exploit this flaw to steal user credentials, modify announcements to spread malware, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the corporate network. The vulnerability affects both portal and DXP environments, indicating a widespread impact across Liferay's product line and suggesting that organizations using either platform are at risk. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where users frequently interact with announcements modules and where sensitive information is shared through the platform.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for the affected versions, along with implementing additional security controls such as content security policies and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, and conduct thorough security testing of the announcements module to identify potential additional vulnerabilities. Regular security monitoring and user education about suspicious announcements can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper input sanitization practices in web applications, particularly in enterprise collaboration platforms where user-generated content processing is common.