CVE-2022-31029 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the AdminLTE dashboard component of the Pi-hole software, specifically versions prior to 5.13. Pi-hole is a widely used network-level advertisement and tracker blocking application that provides a web-based dashboard (AdminLTE) for monitoring and configuration. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation. An authenticated user with administrative privileges can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the "Domain to look for" input field. When the input is submitted (by pressing enter or clicking any button), the injected script executes within the context of the AdminLTE dashboard. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or the injection of malicious payloads within the admin interface. The vulnerability requires the attacker to be logged in, which limits the attack surface primarily to administrators or users with dashboard access. There are no known workarounds, and the recommended remediation is to upgrade to AdminLTE version 5.13 or later where the issue is fixed. No public exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the vulnerability poses a risk if an attacker gains or already has authenticated access to the Pi-hole admin interface.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the deployment of Pi-hole within their network infrastructure. Pi-hole is often used in small to medium enterprises and by tech-savvy users for network-wide ad blocking and DNS filtering. If an attacker gains authenticated access to the Pi-hole admin dashboard, they could execute arbitrary JavaScript, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or manipulation of DNS filtering rules. This could result in redirection of network traffic, exposure to malicious domains, or disruption of network services. Given that Pi-hole is typically deployed in internal networks, the risk of external exploitation is reduced, but insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged. For organizations relying on Pi-hole for DNS filtering and security, this vulnerability could undermine network security policies and user privacy. Additionally, if the Pi-hole instance is used in critical infrastructure or sensitive environments, the impact could extend to data integrity and availability of network services.

1. Immediate upgrade of the Pi-hole AdminLTE component to version 5.13 or later is the primary and most effective mitigation step. 2. Restrict access to the Pi-hole admin interface strictly to trusted administrators and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication where possible. 3. Monitor and audit login activity to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious behavior. 4. Implement network segmentation to isolate Pi-hole servers from general user networks, reducing the risk of lateral movement by attackers. 5. Regularly review and sanitize input fields in custom deployments or integrations to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 6. Educate administrators about the risks of XSS and the importance of not entering untrusted input into configuration fields. 7. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the Pi-hole admin interface. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups of Pi-hole configurations to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.