CVE-2022-4413 in framework
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in GitHub repository nuxt/framework prior to v3.0.0-rc.13.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4413 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the nuxt/framework repository that affects versions prior to v3.0.0-rc.13. This issue resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability stems from the framework's handling of HTTP request parameters that are directly incorporated into HTML responses without adequate encoding or sanitization processes. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the typical reflected XSS pattern where malicious input flows through the application's request handling mechanism and gets echoed back to the user without proper context-aware encoding. The affected framework components likely process query parameters or form data in a manner that does not distinguish between legitimate content and potentially harmful script payloads. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script tags or other XSS vectors in parameters, the framework's response includes this unvalidated data directly in the HTML output, creating an execution environment for the injected code. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user data, manipulate web page content, or redirect users to malicious sites. In the context of a framework like nuxt, which powers many web applications, this vulnerability could affect numerous downstream applications that rely on the framework's security mechanisms. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must lure victims to click malicious links, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when combined with other attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in a framework version prior to v3.0.0-rc.13 indicates that this was a significant enough issue to warrant immediate attention in the release cycle, as reflected in the version control changes that addressed the problem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version v3.0.0-rc.13 or later where the framework implements proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security scanning of applications built on this framework. The fix likely involves implementing context-aware encoding for all user-supplied data that is rendered in HTML contexts, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped based on the output context. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom implementations that might be vulnerable to similar patterns, as the vulnerability could manifest in application-specific code that interfaces with the framework's input handling mechanisms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.