CVE-2022-3765 - Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability Discovered in "thorsten/phpmyfaq" Repository Prior to Version 3.1.8, Exploit Details, and Recommendations

A recently discovered Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (CVE-2022-3765) affects the GitHub repository "thorsten/phpmyfaq" in versions prior to 3.1.8. This blog post will delve into the details of this vulnerability, including code snippets, links to original references, and information on how to exploit it. By understanding the potential issues and ways to mitigate them, you can keep your web applications safe from malicious attacks.

CVE-2022-3765: Vulnerability Details

Cross-site Scripting, also known as XSS, is a security vulnerability that allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This vulnerability was found in the "thorsten/phpmyfaq" repository, which is an open-source FAQ software written in PHP.

This specific vulnerability is categorized as stored XSS, meaning that the malicious script is injected into the application's database, and the application then displays it to users. In this case, the affected versions of "phpmyfaq" are prior to 3.1.8.

The vulnerability was reported by a security researcher who discovered that the application does not adequately sanitize user input in the FAQ creation process, which allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the application easily.

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can create a new FAQ entry containing a malicious script. Here's a code snippet that demonstrates how the payload might look like:

<script>alert('XSS!')</script>

When a user views the FAQ entry, the script will execute, potentially compromising the user's data, session, or performing actions on their behalf.

You can find the original information about this vulnerability from the following sources

1. CVE-2022-3765 - MITRE's listing of the vulnerability, detailing its specific characteristics.
2. "thorsten/phpmyfaq" GitHub Repository - The official GitHub repository for the "phpmyfaq" software, where you can find information on past and current versions.
3. Release Notes for "phpmyfaq" v3.1.8 - The release notes for version 3.1.8, where the vulnerability has been fixed.

Mitigation and Recommendations

To protect your applications from this vulnerability, we strongly recommend taking the following steps:

1. Update to the latest version of "phpmyfaq": If you're using a version of "phpmyfaq" that's older than 3.1.8, upgrade immediately to protect your application from this XSS vulnerability.
2. Implement proper input sanitization: Ensure that all user input is treated as untrusted, and any data displayed on your application is properly sanitized to prevent the execution of malicious scripts.
3. Regularly check for security updates: Stay informed about the latest security updates and patches for your software to protect your applications from known vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-3765 poses a severe risk to applications using the "thorsten/phpmyfaq" repository prior to version 3.1.8. By understanding the exploit details, following the mitigation recommendations, and keeping track of security updates in the future, you can protect your web applications from falling prey to attackers who may try to exploit this vulnerability.

Timeline

Published on: 10/31/2022 11:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/01/2022 17:37:00 UTC