CVE-2022-38901 is a Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Document and Media module of the Liferay Digital Experience Platform (DXP) version 7.3.10 SP3. Specifically, the vulnerability arises from the file upload functionality when handling SVG files. Attackers can exploit this flaw by uploading an SVG file with a malicious payload embedded in the description field. Because SVG files support embedded scripts and HTML, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript or HTML code. When a legitimate user or administrator views the description field of the uploaded SVG file within the platform, the malicious script executes in their browser context. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or further exploitation within the victim’s browser session. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), which is a common XSS category. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), but does require privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the vulnerable module, and the impact is limited to confidentiality and integrity with no availability impact. No known public exploits have been reported, and no official patches or mitigation links were provided in the source data. However, given the nature of Liferay DXP as a widely used enterprise portal and content management system, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise user sessions or inject malicious content into trusted environments.

For European organizations using Liferay DXP 7.3.10 SP3, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to credential theft, unauthorized actions, or distribution of malware via the platform. Organizations relying on Liferay for intranet portals, customer-facing websites, or internal document management could see reputational damage and data leakage if exploited. The requirement for user interaction and privileges limits the attack surface somewhat, but insider threats or phishing campaigns could facilitate exploitation. Additionally, the cross-site scripting could be chained with other vulnerabilities or social engineering to escalate impact. Given the widespread use of Liferay in sectors such as government, finance, and healthcare across Europe, the vulnerability could affect sensitive data and critical services if not addressed.

European organizations should take the following specific steps to mitigate this vulnerability: 1) Immediately review and restrict permissions for users who can upload SVG files or modify descriptions in the Document and Media module to minimize the attack surface. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on SVG file metadata fields, especially the description field, to neutralize embedded scripts or HTML content. 3) Disable or restrict SVG file uploads if not strictly necessary, or convert SVG files to safer formats before upload. 4) Apply Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS payloads. 5) Monitor logs and user activity for suspicious file uploads or unusual behavior related to the Document and Media module. 6) Stay updated with Liferay vendor advisories for official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7) Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted content and encourage cautious behavior regarding file uploads and descriptions. 8) Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS payload patterns in SVG uploads to provide an additional layer of defense.