CVE-2023-22427 in SHIRASAGI
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2023
Stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in Theme switching function of SHIRASAGI v1.16.2 and earlier versions allows a remote attacker with an administrative privilege to inject an arbitrary script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2023-22427 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the theme switching functionality of SHIRASAGI version 1.16.2 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the administrative interface where users with elevated privileges can manipulate theme settings, creating a persistent vector for malicious script injection. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the entire web application ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically affects the theme switching function, which serves as a legitimate administrative feature but lacks proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. This allows malicious payloads to be stored within the application's database and subsequently executed whenever affected users access the theme switching interface. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and full compromise of user accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in web application security where user-supplied data is not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered back to users, creating a persistent XSS attack surface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the theme switching module. When administrators modify theme settings through the administrative interface, the application fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's data store, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates under the principle that untrusted data should never be directly rendered without proper sanitization, yet the theme switching function appears to bypass these fundamental security controls. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to compromised systems. This persistent threat model significantly increases the attack surface and potential damage compared to reflected XSS vulnerabilities which are typically exploitable only during specific user interactions.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-22427 is substantial for organizations utilizing SHIRASAGI versions prior to the fix. Attackers with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary scripts in the browsers of other users, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability can be exploited to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject phishing content that appears legitimate to end users. Given that this affects the administrative theme switching function, attackers could manipulate the application's appearance to hide malicious activities or create confusion among users. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where attackers could use the stored XSS to gain access to additional administrative functions or sensitive data. Organizations may experience data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage as a result of this vulnerability. The persistence of the stored payload means that even after initial exploitation, the vulnerability remains active until properly patched, creating an ongoing risk for affected systems. Security teams must consider the potential for widespread impact across all users who interact with the vulnerable application interface, particularly those with administrative privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-22427 should focus on immediate patching of affected SHIRASAGI versions to the latest release that addresses this vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the theme switching functionality to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution within the application. Regular security audits of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other functions. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the impact of compromised administrative accounts, ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to theme switching features. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate XSS attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing during development cycles, particularly for administrative functions that handle user-supplied data. Security awareness training for administrators can help prevent exploitation through social engineering attacks that might be used to gain initial access to administrative accounts. The fix should include comprehensive logging of theme switching activities to detect unauthorized modifications and provide forensic evidence for security incident investigations. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the application's codebase.