CVE-2022-42248 in QlikView
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2023
QlikView 12.60.2 was discovered to contain a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the QvsViewClient functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-42248 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within QlikView 12.60.2's QvsViewClient component. This type of vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The QvsViewClient functionality serves as a client-side interface for viewing and interacting with QlikView applications, making it a prime target for exploitation. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the malicious code is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected users access the compromised content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the QvsViewClient module. When users interact with QlikView applications through this client interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This insufficient sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through various input vectors such as document names, comments, or other user-controllable fields. The vulnerability manifests when the application retrieves and displays user-provided content without appropriate context-specific escaping or encoding, enabling the execution of arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-42248 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive business intelligence data, or manipulate dashboard views to misrepresent critical metrics. In enterprise environments where QlikView serves as a central platform for data visualization and reporting, this vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to confidential business information, financial data, or strategic analytics. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once the malicious payload is injected, it continues to affect all users who view the compromised content, potentially creating a wide-reaching security incident that could compromise multiple users simultaneously.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to protect their QlikView environments. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available, which typically address the input validation and output encoding deficiencies. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious traffic patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the QlikView ecosystem. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls that address both technical and human factors in the attack chain.