CVE-2022-31160 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting jQuery UI, a widely used library for user interface components. The vulnerability is classified as cross-site scripting (XSS) and affects versions prior to 1.13.2. The issue arises when initializing a checkboxradio widget on an input enclosed within a label. This setup causes the label's contents to be interpreted as part of the input label. When the `.checkboxradio( "refresh" )` method is called, any encoded HTML entities in the initial HTML may be decoded, leading to the potential execution of JavaScript code.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level. This score highlights the risk to organizations, particularly those using affected jQuery UI versions in their applications. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the user’s browser, which can compromise sensitive information or hijack user sessions.
The bug has been patched in jQuery UI version 1.13.2. Organizations that are still using older versions should prioritize upgrading to the latest version to mitigate this vulnerability. The urgency for defenders to address this issue is high, as the potential for exploitation could lead to significant security incidents.
As of now, there are no confirmed public exploits available for this vulnerability, but a proof of concept has been made available on GitHub. Awareness and prompt action are crucial in preventing potential attacks.
Vulnerability Details
Officially, this vulnerability allows cross-site scripting due to improper handling of HTML entities in the checkboxradio widget. The affected versions are all versions prior to 1.13.2. As such, organizations using these versions should take immediate action to upgrade.
According to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), this vulnerability has a score of 6.1, categorized under medium severity. The attack vector is over a network, with low complexity, and requires no privileges. However, user interaction is required for the attack to be successful.
The vulnerability was published on July 20, 2022, and has been classified under CWE-79, which signifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('cross-site scripting').
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2022-31160 lies in the way jQuery UI handles HTML entities when a checkboxradio widget is initialized. Specifically, when the widget's refresh method is invoked, the library erroneously processes encoded HTML entities, allowing them to be executed as JavaScript. This flaw can be exploited through a crafted input, leading to the execution of arbitrary scripts.
The attack vector is over the network, requiring an attacker to have the ability to influence the HTML content of a web application that utilizes an affected version of jQuery UI. The attack complexity is low, as it can be executed without any special conditions, and it requires no privileges or elevated access. However, user interaction is necessary as the user must engage with the affected elements on the web page.
The impact of the vulnerability is significant. It has low confidentiality and integrity impacts, meaning that while it can execute scripts, it does not inherently lead to data breaches or data corruption. The availability impact is none, indicating that it does not disrupt service availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is notable for organizations that have implemented jQuery UI in their applications. The potential for cross-site scripting attacks can lead to unauthorized access to user data, session hijacking, and other malicious activities that compromise security.
Organizations should assess their use of jQuery UI and prioritize patching to version 1.13.2 or later to mitigate this risk. The blast radius could include any web application utilizing the affected library, making it crucial for developers and security teams to be vigilant. Given the vulnerability's medium severity score, organizations should address it in their priority patch cycle.
With an EPSS score of 0.1018, this vulnerability falls within a percentile indicating a relatively low probability of exploitation in the wild; however, organizations should not be complacent. The potential for exploitation exists, and timely remediation is essential.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of jQuery UI are all versions prior to 1.13.2. This also includes vulnerabilities present in various components that utilize jQuery UI such as the checkboxradio widget. Organizations using these versions should upgrade to version 1.13.2 or later to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade jQuery UI to version 1.13.2 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, a temporary workaround involves ensuring that all non-input contents of the label are wrapped in a span element to prevent the erroneous decoding of HTML entities.
Organizations can benefit from further security measures, such as implementing secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments. For a comprehensive approach to security, organizations may consider engaging with penetration testing services to identify and resolve similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for unusual behavior in web applications that utilize jQuery UI. Key indicators include unexpected JavaScript execution, changes in HTML content, and unauthorized access attempts. Logging and monitoring systems should be configured to capture these anomalies promptly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-31160 highlights the ongoing challenges related to web application security. Vulnerabilities in libraries like jQuery UI can have widespread implications due to their common usage. This incident serves as a reminder for organizations to routinely assess their dependencies and ensure they are using the latest secure versions.
Security teams should take this opportunity to review their application security posture and consider implementing a vulnerability management program to proactively address potential threats.
Additionally, organizations should consider conducting regular security assessments and engaging in penetration testing to ensure that their applications remain secure against evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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