CVE-2022-4867 in froxlor
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2022
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in GitHub repository froxlor/froxlor prior to 2.0.0-beta1.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4867 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the froxlor web hosting control panel software. This vulnerability affects versions prior to the 2.0.0-beta1 release and resides within the GitHub repository managed by the froxlor project. The issue stems from insufficient validation of HTTP requests originating from unauthorized sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The froxlor control panel, designed for managing web hosting environments including domains, email accounts, and database configurations, becomes susceptible to exploitation when users interact with maliciously crafted web pages or links. This vulnerability operates under the well-established CWE-352 classification for Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is categorized as a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently documented in security frameworks and standards.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability manifests through the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the froxlor application's request processing pipeline. When authenticated users navigate to compromised web pages or click on malicious links, the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same origin. This weakness allows attackers to craft specially designed requests that leverage the authenticated session of victims, enabling unauthorized modifications to hosting configurations, user account changes, or other administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web hosting environments where control panel access grants extensive privileges over server resources, making the potential impact significantly higher than typical CSRF scenarios in less privileged applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4867 extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass potential system compromise and service disruption within hosting environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could perform unauthorized actions such as creating new user accounts, modifying existing configurations, changing passwords, or even deleting critical system components. The implications are particularly severe in shared hosting environments where multiple customers rely on the same control panel infrastructure, as unauthorized modifications could affect other users or potentially provide attackers with persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as exploitation typically requires user interaction with malicious content and leverages legitimate authentication sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and include updating to froxlor version 2.0.0-beta1 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all instances of the froxlor control panel are updated promptly to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of the control panel environment. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious activities in user session logs and implement proper access controls to limit the scope of potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security controls in web hosting environments where administrative privileges are concentrated.