CVE-2022-39357 – Winter CMS Snowboard Framework Prototype Pollution Vulnerability

CVE-2022-39357 is a security vulnerability identified in the Winter CMS, a free, open-source content management system built on the Laravel PHP framework. This vulnerability affects the Snowboard framework in versions 1.1.8, 1.1.9, and 1.2., and could potentially lead to security compromises in affected systems. It is crucial to understand the details of this vulnerability, including the affected versions, the code snippet causing the issue, and how to mitigate its potential impact.

Vulnerability Details

Winter CMS's Snowboard framework specifically demonstrates a prototype pollution vulnerability in its main Snowboard class and plugin loader code. Prototype pollution is a security issue that occurs when an attacker manipulates the prototype properties of JavaScript objects. This can lead to unauthorized code execution or property injection, which can compromise the security of the affected system.

Snowboard framework v1.2.

The 1. branch of Winter CMS is not affected as it does not contain the Snowboard framework. This issue has been resolved in updated versions of the software including:

Code Snippet

Here's a code snippet that demonstrates the prototype pollution issue in the Snowboard class and its plugin loader:

class Snowboard {
  ...
  loadPlugins(plugins) {
    for (const plugin of plugins) {
      this.loadPlugin(plugin);
    }
  }
  
  loadPlugin(plugin) {
    const config = plugin.getConfig();
    const defaults = {...this.defaults, ...config};
    ...
  }
}

As seen in this code snippet, the loadPlugins() and loadPlugin() functions are vulnerable to prototype pollution. When merging the configuration objects, prototypes can be modified, leading to unintended consequences.

Original References

The details of this vulnerability were publicly disclosed, and you can find the original references here:

- CVE-2022-39357 Official CVE Details
- Winter CMS GitHub Repository

Exploit and Mitigation

Although there are no known exploits targeting this vulnerability as of now, users of the affected versions should take immediate action to protect their systems. The recommended course of action is to update the Snowboard framework to the patched versions (v1.1.10 or v1.2.1).

As a workaround, you can help mitigate the risks associated with this issue by implementing some security best practices for JavaScript applications:

1. Implement a strong Content Security Policy (CSP): A well-configured CSP can restrict potentially malicious scripts from executing, thereby protecting the application.
2. Audit your JavaScript code: Regularly review your code for vulnerabilities and ensure that you are following best practices for secure coding.
3. Stay informed about updates and patches: Keep an eye on the Winter CMS GitHub repository and their official announcement channels for security patches and updates.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-39357 is a serious security vulnerability in the Winter CMS's Snowboard framework. It is essential to be aware of the affected versions and take steps to update or implement recommended workarounds to protect your systems. Stay vigilant about updates, patches, and security practices to maintain the security of your applications.

Timeline

Published on: 10/26/2022 15:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 10/28/2022 19:37:00 UTC