CVE-2022-44960 in webTareas
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2022
webtareas 2.4p5 was discovered to contain a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the component /general/search.php?searchtype=simple. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Search field.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44960 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the webtareas 2.4p5 web application framework. This security weakness exists specifically within the /general/search.php component where the searchtype parameter is processed, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is rendered back to end users.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the Search field parameter of the affected endpoint. When the web application processes this input without adequate sanitization, the malicious code becomes embedded within the search results page and executes in the browser context of any user who views the affected search results. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through spearphishing attachments or links. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication or special privileges from the attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft through keylogging scripts. Given that the vulnerability affects a search functionality that is likely accessed by multiple users within the application, the potential attack surface is significant. The attacker can potentially compromise user sessions, access confidential data, or use the compromised browser sessions to escalate privileges within the application. This vulnerability could also serve as a stepping stone for further attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access or move laterally within the application environment.
Organizations utilizing webtareas 2.4p5 should immediately implement input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and implementing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious characters. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect web applications from common injection flaws that can lead to severe security consequences.