CVE-2023-22849 in Sling App CMS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2023
An improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('Cross-site Scripting') [CWE-79] vulnerability in Sling App CMS version 1.1.4 and prior may allow an authenticated remote attacker to perform a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack in multiple features. Upgrade to Apache Sling App CMS >= 1.1.6
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22849 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Apache Sling App CMS platform that affects versions 1.1.4 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate input validation during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a reflected XSS attack vector, where attacker-controlled input is immediately reflected back in the application's response without proper sanitization or encoding. This weakness exists within the CMS's handling of user-supplied data during page rendering operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through crafted URLs or form submissions that contain malicious script payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability places the flaw squarely within CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness. The affected Apache Sling App CMS version 1.1.4 and prior releases fail to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This failure occurs during the page generation phase when the application processes parameters or data elements that should be treated as untrusted input. The reflected nature of this attack means that the malicious script is executed in the victim's browser when they navigate to a specially crafted URL containing the malicious payload, without requiring any persistent storage of the script within the application itself. The vulnerability impacts multiple features within the CMS, indicating a systemic issue in the input handling architecture rather than isolated component failures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing the affected CMS versions, as it allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of victims' browsers. The authenticated requirement means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability, but this still represents a substantial security risk given that credential compromise can occur through various attack vectors including phishing, credential reuse, or insider threats. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract sensitive data from the application. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise or data breaches.
Organizations should immediately prioritize upgrading their Apache Sling App CMS installations to version 1.1.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. This upgrade represents the primary mitigation strategy recommended by the vendor and security community. Additional defensive measures include implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and conducting thorough security testing of all user input handling processes. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or workflows. Security teams should also review access controls and authentication mechanisms to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to the CMS system, as the vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, making proper identity management and access control critical components of the overall security posture.