CVE-2022-38146 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Silverstripe framework, a popular open-source content management system (CMS) and web application framework used for building websites and web applications. This vulnerability affects versions of the Silverstripe framework up to and including 4.11. The issue is classified under CWE-79, which corresponds to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, leading to XSS attacks. The vulnerability allows an attacker with at least low privileges (PR:L) and requiring user interaction (UI:R) to inject malicious scripts into web pages served by the Silverstripe framework. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can occur remotely over the internet without physical access. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity but does not affect availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting the moderate impact and exploitation complexity. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the security scope of the vulnerable component. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no official patches or vendor advisories are linked in the provided data. The lack of detailed product and version information limits precise identification of affected deployments, but it is clear that Silverstripe framework users running versions up to 4.11 are at risk. The vulnerability likely arises from insufficient input sanitization or output encoding in certain parts of the framework, allowing malicious script injection that can execute in the context of users’ browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users.

For European organizations using the Silverstripe framework, this XSS vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Exploitation could lead to theft of sensitive user data, including session cookies and personal information, which can compromise user accounts and internal systems. It may also facilitate phishing attacks by injecting malicious content into trusted websites, damaging organizational reputation and user trust. Sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, which often handle sensitive data and rely on web portals, are particularly vulnerable. The medium severity score reflects that while the vulnerability requires some level of privilege and user interaction, the widespread use of Silverstripe in Europe means a significant number of websites could be exposed. Additionally, the scope change indicates that the impact could extend beyond the immediate vulnerable component, potentially affecting other integrated systems or services. The absence of known exploits suggests that proactive mitigation can prevent exploitation, but organizations should not delay remediation given the potential for targeted attacks.

Conduct an immediate audit of all web applications and websites running the Silverstripe framework, identifying versions up to 4.11. Apply any available security patches or updates from the Silverstripe project promptly once released; if no official patch exists, consider upgrading to the latest secure version beyond 4.11. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the application, especially in areas handling dynamic content rendering. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) configured with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting Silverstripe applications. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices specific to Silverstripe and XSS prevention techniques. Perform regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in Silverstripe-based applications. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activity or attempted exploitation patterns related to XSS attacks.