CVE-2022-42116 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Frontend Editor module's integration with CKEditor in Liferay Portal 7.3.2 through 7.4.3.14, and Liferay DXP 7.3 before update 6, and 7.4 before update 15 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name, or (2) namespace parameter.

Understanding CVE-2022-42116

This section will provide an insight into the CVE-2022-42116 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2022-42116?

CVE-2022-42116 is a Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the integration of the Frontend Editor module with CKEditor in specific versions of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to insert malicious web scripts or HTML code using certain parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2022-42116

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary scripts on the target system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-42116

This section will delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2022-42116.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the Frontend Editor module's interaction with CKEditor, which can be exploited by attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into the web application.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Liferay Portal versions 7.3.2 through 7.4.3.14 and Liferay DXP versions 7.3 prior to update 6 and 7.4 prior to update 15.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit CVE-2022-42116 by manipulating the 'name' or 'namespace' parameter in the integration of the Frontend Editor module with CKEditor, allowing them to inject unauthorized scripts or HTML content.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss methods to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2022-42116.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Liferay Portal instances to versions where security patches addressing CVE-2022-42116 are applied. They should also sanitize and validate user input to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing security best practices such as input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates can help in preventing similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP users should regularly check for security updates and patches provided by the vendors to ensure that their systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.