CVE-2022-44031 in Redmine
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Redmine before 4.2.9 and 5.0.x before 5.0.4 allows persistent XSS in its Textile formatter due to improper sanitization of the blockquote syntax in Textile-formatted fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2022-44031 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw in Redmine versions prior to 4.2.9 and 5.0.4, specifically affecting the Textile formatter component. This issue arises from inadequate sanitization of blockquote syntax elements within Textile-formatted text fields, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code in the context of affected applications. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist across user sessions and can be triggered whenever the vulnerable content is rendered.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Textile formatter's insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms when processing blockquote elements. When users submit content containing blockquote syntax such as "
content" in Textile format, the system fails to properly sanitize the embedded HTML attributes or JavaScript code that may be present within these elements. This improper sanitization allows attackers to embed malicious payloads that execute in the browser context of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS issue because the malicious code is stored server-side and executed every time the content is rendered, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative platforms like Redmine where multiple users interact with shared content.The operational impact of CVE-2022-44031 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the Redmine environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can steal user cookies, gain unauthorized access to projects, modify or delete sensitive information, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the application. Given that Redmine is widely used for project management and issue tracking in enterprise environments, the implications are severe as attackers can target administrators and developers with elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious Textile content that appears legitimate to unsuspecting users.
Organizations utilizing affected Redmine versions should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and updates to remediate this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and content security policies to prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious Textile content submissions. Regular security assessments and user education regarding the risks of submitting untrusted content are essential preventive measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper sanitization in rich text processing components, as highlighted by industry standards and best practices for web application security. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific XSS vector.