CVE-2022-4740 in kkFileView
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2022
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in kkFileView. Affected by this issue is the function setWatermarkAttribute of the file /picturesPreview. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-216776.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4740 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within kkFileView, a document viewing and preview application. This security weakness specifically affects the setWatermarkAttribute function located within the /picturesPreview file component of the software ecosystem. The vulnerability classification as problematic indicates significant risk to systems utilizing this file viewing solution, particularly given its remote exploitability and public disclosure status. The flaw exists in the application's handling of watermark attributes during picture preview operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the application's response.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the watermark attribute processing functionality. When users interact with the picture preview feature and provide watermark parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into the generated HTML output. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browser sessions. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross site scripting attack where malicious payloads are embedded in the watermark attribute parameters and subsequently rendered in the preview interface, enabling unauthorized code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the application's functionality. Since the exploit can be launched remotely without requiring local system access, it presents an attractive target for widespread exploitation across organizations using kkFileView. The public disclosure of the exploit through VDB-216776 means that threat actors have readily available tools and techniques to leverage this weakness, significantly increasing the risk surface for affected systems. Organizations relying on this document preview functionality face potential data breaches, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to sensitive documents.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those related to watermark attributes. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all input data before processing and ensuring proper HTML escaping of dynamic content in the preview interface. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using secure coding practices to prevent script injection attacks should be prioritized. Regular security updates and patches from the software vendor should be applied promptly, while network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws, and maps to attack techniques within the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for social engineering, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape this vulnerability creates.