CVE-2022-38512 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.12 through 7.4.3.36 and Liferay DXP 7.4 update 8 through 36. The vulnerability resides in the Translation module of these Liferay products, where permission checks are not enforced before allowing a user to export web content for translation. Specifically, an attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a URL to download the XLIFF translation file of a web content page without proper authorization. XLIFF files typically contain the textual content of web pages intended for translation purposes. Because the vulnerability does not require authentication (as indicated by the CVSS vector AV:N/PR:N/UI:R), an attacker only needs to trick a user into interacting with a crafted URL (user interaction required) to gain access to potentially sensitive content. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing web content that may not be intended for public or unauthorized viewing. Integrity and availability are not affected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to enforce proper access controls. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches are linked in the provided data, but the affected versions are clearly identified. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity level due to the ease of exploitation over the network without privileges but requiring user interaction, and the impact being limited to confidentiality.

For European organizations using Liferay Portal or Liferay DXP within the specified vulnerable versions, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of web content intended for translation. This could lead to leakage of sensitive or proprietary information embedded in web pages, such as internal communications, product details, or customer data if included in the content. Organizations relying on Liferay for public-facing or intranet portals may inadvertently expose confidential content to attackers or unauthorized users. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, which could affect compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR if personal or sensitive data is exposed. Although the vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of services, the exposure of sensitive content can damage organizational reputation and trust. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to exploit this vulnerability, increasing the risk in environments where users are less security-aware.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP to versions beyond 7.4.3.36 and update 36 respectively, where this vulnerability is addressed. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should implement strict access controls around the Translation module, ensuring only authorized users can access export functionality. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns related to XLIFF export requests. Additionally, organizations should conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks exploiting this vulnerability. Monitoring web server logs for unusual access patterns to translation export endpoints can help detect attempted exploitation. If possible, disable or restrict the Translation module export feature until a patch is applied. Finally, review and audit web content to ensure no sensitive information is unnecessarily included in translation files.