CVE-2022-24722 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the 'view_component' gem used in Ruby on Rails applications. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, specifically when user-supplied data is passed as an interpolation argument to the 'translate' method within the view_component framework. Versions prior to 2.31.2 and 2.49.1 are affected, where the input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the HTML output. This flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper input sanitization leading to XSS. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability is significant because it affects any Ruby on Rails application using the vulnerable versions of view_component with translation features that interpolate user input. The issue was addressed in versions 2.31.2 and 2.49.1 by implementing proper sanitization of inputs passed to the translate method. As a temporary mitigation, developers are advised to avoid passing unsanitized user input to the translate function or to sanitize inputs prior to interpolation. This vulnerability primarily impacts web applications that rely on the view_component gem for rendering UI components and use internationalization or translation features that interpolate user data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to web applications built on Ruby on Rails that utilize the view_component gem with affected versions. Successful exploitation could lead to client-side script execution, compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive data, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and violate data protection regulations such as GDPR. Sectors with high reliance on web applications for customer interaction, such as finance, e-commerce, healthcare, and government services, are particularly at risk. The impact is heightened in environments where user input is frequently incorporated into translated UI components without proper sanitization. Although no active exploits are reported, the medium severity rating and the ease of injecting malicious scripts through user input interpolation make it a credible threat vector. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain, especially in targeted attacks against European entities with sensitive data or critical infrastructure.

1. Upgrade all instances of the view_component gem to versions 2.31.2 or 2.49.1 or later, which contain the official patches addressing this vulnerability. 2. Review application code to identify any usage of the 'translate' method where user input is passed as interpolation arguments and refactor to avoid direct user input interpolation. 3. Implement rigorous input validation and sanitization routines on all user-supplied data before it reaches the translation layer. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, mitigating the impact of potential XSS attacks. 5. Conduct thorough security testing, including automated scanning and manual code reviews, focusing on internationalization and translation features. 6. Educate development teams about secure coding practices related to input handling and internationalization. 7. Monitor application logs and user reports for suspicious activity that could indicate attempted exploitation. 8. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider disabling or limiting features that interpolate user input in translations until patches can be applied.