CVE-2022-24855 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Metabase, an open-source business intelligence and analytics platform widely used for data visualization and dashboarding. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, specifically within an internal development endpoint located at `/_internal`. This endpoint is shipped with affected versions of Metabase ranging from 0.40.0 up to but not including 0.40.8, 0.41.0 up to 0.41.7, 0.42.0 up to 0.42.4, and their corresponding 1.x versions. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of a victim's browser when they access crafted URLs or pages involving the vulnerable endpoint. Exploitation could lead to phishing attacks, where malicious links appear legitimate, potentially resulting in account takeover if the victim interacts with the payload. The vulnerability does not require authentication to exploit if the endpoint is exposed, increasing the attack surface. Mitigation involves upgrading to patched versions (0.40.8, 0.41.7, 0.42.4 or higher) or blocking access to the `/_internal` endpoint via firewall rules. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the presence of an internal endpoint accessible externally can pose a significant risk if left unpatched or unprotected.

For European organizations using Metabase, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of user accounts and data. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in users' browsers, enabling phishing campaigns that may lead to credential theft and unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data. This could result in data leakage, manipulation of analytics dashboards, and erosion of trust in internal reporting systems. Given the use of Metabase in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, the impact could extend to regulatory non-compliance and reputational damage. The vulnerability's exploitation does not directly affect system availability but can indirectly disrupt operations through compromised user accounts and data integrity. Organizations with publicly accessible Metabase instances or insufficient network segmentation are at higher risk. The medium severity rating reflects the potential for targeted attacks leveraging social engineering combined with this technical flaw.

1. Immediate upgrade to the latest patched Metabase versions (0.40.8, 0.41.7, 0.42.4 or newer) to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, implement strict firewall rules or web application firewall (WAF) policies to block all external access to the `/_internal` endpoint, ensuring it is only accessible from trusted internal networks. 3. Conduct a thorough audit of Metabase deployment configurations to verify no unintended exposure of internal endpoints exists. 4. Educate users about phishing risks and encourage vigilance when interacting with links related to Metabase dashboards. 5. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or attempts to reach the `/_internal` endpoint. 6. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within Metabase web pages. 7. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving XSS and phishing attacks targeting business intelligence platforms.