CVE-2022-30118 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-30118, a vulnerability related to Cross-site Scripting (XSS) affecting Concrete CMS versions 8.5.7 and below, as well as versions 9.0 through 9.0.2. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.

Understanding CVE-2022-30118

CVE-2022-30118 is a Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in Concrete CMS. It specifically affects older versions of the system, making certain functionalities susceptible to XSS attacks when using Internet Explorer with XSS protection disabled.

What is CVE-2022-30118?

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data theft. While modern-day browsers prevent such attacks through automatic input escape mechanisms, older versions of Concrete CMS remain vulnerable.

The Impact of CVE-2022-30118

The impact of this CVE includes the potential for unauthorized script execution, leading to data manipulation, session hijacking, or defacement of the affected system. The Concrete CMS Security team has assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 2 to this vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-30118

Understanding the specific details of this vulnerability is crucial for implementing effective mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability resides in the handling of form controls within express entities forms in Concrete CMS versions 8.5.7 and below, as well as versions 9.0 through 9.0.2. Attackers can exploit this issue to inject and execute malicious scripts when using Internet Explorer with XSS protection disabled.

Affected Systems and Versions

Concrete CMS versions affected by this vulnerability include 8.5.7 and below, as well as versions 9.0 through 9.0.2. Organizations using these versions are at risk of XSS attacks through form control editing in express entities forms.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2022-30118 involves manipulating form controls in express entities forms, specifically in older versions of Concrete CMS. By bypassing XSS protection in Internet Explorer, attackers can inject and execute malicious scripts within the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Securing systems against CVE-2022-30118 requires immediate action and long-term security practices to prevent exploitation and data breaches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should upgrade to the latest remediated versions of Concrete CMS, specifically versions 8.5.8 and 9.1.0, to patch the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, enabling XSS protection in web browsers is crucial to prevent such attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security assessments, and educating users about XSS risks are essential for long-term system security. Security teams should stay informed about the latest CVEs and apply patches promptly.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring security advisories from Concrete CMS, promptly applying patches, and ensuring system updates are essential steps to mitigate the risk of XSS vulnerabilities.