CVE-2022-23552 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A stored XSS vulnerability in Grafana's FileUploader component has been identified. Find out the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps below.

Understanding CVE-2022-23552

Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. The vulnerability affects versions before 9.2.10, 9.3.4, and 8.5.16, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of authorized users.

What is CVE-2022-23552?

Grafana's stored XSS vulnerability in the core plugin GeoMap allows attackers with Editor role to execute malicious JavaScript, enabling potential privilege escalation. Users are advised to update to versions 8.5.16, 9.2.10, or 9.3.4 to mitigate the risk.

The Impact of CVE-2022-23552

The vulnerability poses a high risk with a base severity score of 7.3, affecting confidentiality and integrity of Grafana instances. Attackers can leverage the Editor role to execute unauthorized code, leading to potential security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-23552

The vulnerability arises due to improper sanitization of SVG files, allowing malicious JavaScript execution within the user's context. Understanding the exploitation mechanism and affected versions is crucial for effective mitigation.

Vulnerability Description

The stored XSS vulnerability in Grafana's core plugin GeoMap enables attackers to embed malicious JavaScript through SVG files, leading to unauthorized code execution and potential privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions prior to 9.2.10, 9.3.4, and 8.5.16 of Grafana are affected by this vulnerability, exposing instances to potential security risks. Users of these versions are advised to update immediately.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with the Editor role can leverage SVG files to embed JavaScript code, posing a serious risk of executing unauthorized actions within Grafana instances.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps, implementing long-term security practices, and ensuring timely patching and updates are essential to safeguarding Grafana instances from CVE-2022-23552.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Grafana to versions 8.5.16, 9.2.10, or 9.3.4 to address the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation. Restricting access and monitoring for suspicious activity is also recommended.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforcing role-based access controls, regular security audits, and educating users on secure coding practices can help mitigate future vulnerabilities and enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches, staying informed about security advisories, and proactively monitoring for vulnerabilities are essential to maintaining a secure Grafana environment.