CVE-2022-4865 in memos
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository usememos/memos prior to 0.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4865 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the usememos/memos repository software prior to version 0.9.1. This issue manifests in the application's handling of user input that gets persisted and subsequently rendered without adequate sanitization, creating a persistent security risk for all users interacting with the affected system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS attack where malicious scripts are injected into the application's database and executed whenever other users view the compromised content. The usememos/memos platform serves as a self-hosted knowledge management tool that allows users to create and share notes, making it particularly susceptible to this type of attack since user-generated content forms the core functionality of the application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker injects malicious JavaScript code into memo entries through the application's input fields. When other users access these memos, the stored script executes in their browsers within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's backend processing, where user-supplied data flows directly into the HTML rendering pipeline without proper sanitization. This vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the application's defense-in-depth strategy, as the system does not adequately protect against malicious input that could compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling sophisticated attack vectors such as credential theft, session hijacking, and privilege escalation within the application's user context. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user accounts, modify or delete content, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected software versions, creating a widespread security risk that could be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise. Organizations relying on this knowledge management platform face significant exposure to data breaches and unauthorized access incidents, particularly in environments where multiple users interact with shared content repositories. This vulnerability also impacts the platform's overall security posture by undermining user trust and potentially violating data protection regulations that require adequate security controls to protect user information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4865 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 0.9.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline, ensuring that all user-generated content undergoes proper sanitization before being stored or rendered. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the application stack. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566.001 - Phishing, as attackers could use the XSS vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads that appear legitimate to users, while the CWE-79 classification emphasizes the need for proper input validation and output encoding practices to prevent malicious script injection attacks.