CVE-2022-41702: Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in DIAEnergie's InsertReg API – Exploitation and Remediation

CVE-2022-41702 is a vulnerability identifier in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system. It refers to a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that affects DIAEnergie, specifically in versions prior to v1.9.01.002. DIAEnergie is a popular energy management software solution used to manage energy consumption and assess energy-saving measures within various industries.

In this long-read post, we will go through the details of the vulnerability, exploitation techniques, and possible remediation steps to ensure the security of affected systems. We will also take a look at a code snippet demonstrating the vulnerability and provide links to original sources for an in-depth understanding of the issue.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability stems from a lack of input validation in the InsertReg API present in affected versions of DIAEnergie. By exploiting this vulnerability, a malicious user can inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the user's browser, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive data, session hijacking, and other malicious activities.

Here is a code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability

// Unsafe InsertReg API in DIAEnergie software version <=1.9.01.001
function insertReg (data) {
  const regData = data; // No input validation is performed
  
  // Code to insert the registry entry
  // ...
  
  return true;
}

// Malicious user submits crafted data containing JavaScript code
const maliciousData = {
  'key': 'temperature',
  'value': '<script>alert("XSS vulnerability in InsertReg API!")</script>'
};

insertReg(maliciousData);

As seen in the example above, the InsertReg API does not perform any input validation to sanitize the user-provided data, making it vulnerable to stored XSS attacks.

Exploitation

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must create a specially crafted request containing malicious JavaScript code. Once this request is submitted, the vulnerable API stores the injected code and displays it whenever the affected registry entry is accessed. When another user views this entry, their browser unknowingly executes the malicious code, compromising their user session and potentially granting the attacker access to sensitive data.

For a successful exploitation, the attacker may use various techniques like social engineering to convince the victim to access a vulnerable page containing the injected code.

Original References

- CVE-2022-41702 details on the CVE website
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) entry for CVE-2022-41702
- DIAEnergie Security Advisory related to this issue (Login might be required)

The following remediation steps are recommended to address the vulnerability

1. Upgrade to the latest version of DIAEnergie (v1.9.01.002 or later), which contains the necessary security patches.

2. If an upgrade is not immediately possible, apply input validation and output encoding techniques to sanitize any data being passed to the InsertReg API. The OWASP XSS Prevention Cheat Sheet provides helpful guidance and examples.

3. Regularly review and update your DIAEnergie installation, following the vendor's guidelines and best practices.

4. Ensure data access controls and user authentication mechanisms are robust enough to prevent unauthorized access even if an attacker manages to exploit the vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-41702 is a severe stored XSS vulnerability affecting DIAEnergie versions prior to v1.9.01.002 through the vulnerable InsertReg API. By understanding the vulnerability and implementing the necessary remediation steps, organizations can protect their energy management systems from exploitation, preventing unauthorized access and maintaining security.

Timeline

Published on: 10/27/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 10/28/2022 18:32:00 UTC