CVE-2022-45970 in Alist
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Alist v3.5.1 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) via the bulletin board.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45970 affects Alist version 3.5.1 and represents a cross site scripting flaw that specifically manifests through the bulletin board functionality of the application. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses that can potentially allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The bulletin board component serves as a user interaction feature where users can post messages or announcements, making it a prime target for malicious input injection attempts. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the bulletin board implementation, creating an opening for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability places it within CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting conditions where applications fail to properly encode or validate user-supplied data before including it in web pages served to other users. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts through the bulletin board interface, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. When users view the bulletin board content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can lead to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because bulletin board features are typically designed to be interactive and user-friendly, making them more likely to be targeted by attackers seeking to exploit user trust and engagement.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can significantly compromise the security posture of systems running Alist v3.5.1. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user sessions, modify bulletin board content to spread malware, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate interfaces. The attack surface is expanded because any user with access to the bulletin board functionality can potentially become a vector for XSS attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Alist for file management and collaboration, as it can undermine the integrity of shared information and user trust in the platform. The impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially affect entire organizational data repositories that depend on the bulletin board for communication and announcements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-45970 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability in the bulletin board functionality. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-supplied data before rendering it in the bulletin board interface. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits should verify that all user input fields are properly validated. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content, making it essential for organizations to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging attack patterns targeting similar vulnerabilities in file management systems.