CVE-2022-46151 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves a reflected XSS vulnerability in Pinterest's Querybook software, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts.

Understanding CVE-2022-46151

This vulnerability affects versions of Querybook prior to 3.14.2, where user input in specific fields is not properly sanitized, leading to a risk of cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2022-46151?

Querybook, an open-source data querying UI, is impacted by a reflected XSS flaw in the error field of certain callback URLs. Attackers could exploit this to execute arbitrary JavaScript code.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46151

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk, potentially enabling attackers to compromise user data and perform unauthorized actions within Querybook instances.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46151

The vulnerability arises from improper input neutralization during web page generation, falling under CWE-79. Below are key technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

User input in error fields of auth callback URLs is not properly escaped, opening the door to XSS attacks if CSP is lacking necessary restrictions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Pinterest
Product: Querybook
Affected Versions: < 3.14.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the lack of proper input validation to inject and execute malicious scripts, potentially compromising user data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-46151 and enhance security, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Querybook version 3.14.2 or above, as this includes a fix for the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) with strict directives to prevent XSS attacks.
Ensure that unsafe-inline is not allowed within CSP configurations.
If unable to upgrade immediately, manually escape query parameters in a reverse proxy to mitigate risks.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the provided GitHub advisory and commit for detailed instructions on applying patches and securing Querybook installations.