CVE-2022-43363 in Web
Summary
by MITRE • 12/06/2022
** DISPUTED ** Telegram Web 15.3.1 allows XSS via a certain payload derived from a Target Corporation website. NOTE: some third parties have been unable to discern any relationship between the Pastebin information and a possible XSS finding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43363 pertains to a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Telegram Web version 15.3.1. This issue arises from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's processing of user-supplied data. The vulnerability manifests when specific payloads are crafted based on elements found on Target Corporation's website, suggesting a potential for sophisticated attack vectors that could leverage legitimate web content to execute malicious scripts. Security researchers initially reported this finding through Pastebin, though subsequent investigation revealed inconsistencies in establishing a clear causal relationship between the reported payload and actual XSS exploitation capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without adequate sanitization or encoding. The flaw likely exists in how Telegram Web handles certain HTML content or URL parameters that originate from external domains, particularly those associated with Target Corporation. When users encounter specially crafted links or content that triggers this vulnerability, malicious JavaScript code could execute within the context of the user's session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Telegram Web users who may inadvertently encounter malicious content through social engineering campaigns or compromised websites. The fact that the payload derivation is based on Target Corporation's website suggests potential for targeted attacks where threat actors could craft convincing phishing content that leverages legitimate corporate branding to bypass user suspicion. The disputed nature of this vulnerability indicates that security researchers and vendors may have difficulty reproducing the exact conditions necessary for exploitation, potentially due to the specific environmental dependencies or the complexity of the payload construction.
The impact of such a vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access to user accounts through session manipulation or data exfiltration. Users engaging with the Telegram Web interface could unknowingly provide attackers with access to their communications, contact lists, and potentially sensitive information. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under techniques such as T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing, as the exploitation would likely involve user interaction with malicious content. Organizations using Telegram Web for business communications should consider this vulnerability particularly dangerous given the potential for corporate data compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Telegram Web application. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications. Users should be educated about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and should avoid interacting with untrusted content. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using security headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks. The disputed nature of this vulnerability emphasizes the importance of thorough validation and testing before accepting reported security findings, while also highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of emerging threats in web-based applications.