CVE-2022-4396 in pyrdfa3
Summary
by MITRE • 12/10/2022
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A vulnerability was found in RDFlib pyrdfa3 and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function _get_option of the file pyRdfa/__init__.py. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The name of the patch is ffd1d62dd50d5f4190013b39cedcdfbd81f3ce3e. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier VDB-215249 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4396 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within RDFlib pyrdfa3, a Python library used for processing RDFa content. This issue resides in the get_option function located within the pyRdfa/__init_.py file, demonstrating how seemingly innocuous configuration handling can become a critical security weakness. The vulnerability classification as problematic indicates that while it may not be immediately exploitable, it creates conditions that could allow malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web applications that utilize this library. The attack vector is remote, meaning that adversaries can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the _get_option function processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization or validation, allowing malicious data to be passed through the function and subsequently executed in web browsers. The patch referenced in the advisory, identified by the hash ffd1d62dd50d5f4190013b39cedcdfbd81f3ce3e, addresses this by implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures. The fact that this vulnerability only affects unsupported products indicates that the maintainers have ceased providing updates or security patches for these versions, leaving users exposed to potential exploitation. This scenario represents a common challenge in cybersecurity where legacy software continues to be deployed in production environments despite known security weaknesses, creating persistent attack surfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive user data, or redirect users to malicious websites. When applications using pyrdfa3 process RDFa content from untrusted sources, the vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist across user sessions. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the internet, potentially affecting multiple users simultaneously. Organizations that continue to use unsupported versions of this library face increased risk of successful exploitation, particularly in environments where web applications process user-generated content or external data feeds. The vulnerability demonstrates how even specialized libraries can contain security flaws that require careful monitoring and timely remediation to prevent compromise of web applications that depend on them.
Given that this vulnerability affects unsupported products, the recommended mitigation strategy focuses on immediate patch application where possible, though the advisory notes that these products are no longer maintained. Organizations should consider migrating to supported alternatives that provide ongoing security updates and maintenance. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regularly auditing dependencies and ensuring that all software components are actively supported by their maintainers. Security teams should implement monitoring procedures to detect and respond to exploitation attempts, while also planning for the eventual retirement of legacy systems that cannot be patched or updated. The presence of this vulnerability in a library used for RDFa processing indicates that organizations processing semantic web content should be particularly vigilant about maintaining secure configurations and validating all input data sources.