CVE-2022-39285 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting ZoneMinder, an open-source closed-circuit television (CCTV) software application widely used for video surveillance management. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, specifically in the handling of the 'file' parameter on the 'view=log' page. An attacker can exploit this by injecting malicious script code into the logs, which is then executed in the context of any legitimate user who views the affected log page. This occurs because the input is not properly sanitized, allowing the attacker to break out of the current HTML table row ('tr') and cell ('td') tags and insert executable code. The consequence is that the malicious script runs with the permissions of the victim user, potentially leading to data theft, session hijacking, or further exploitation such as account takeover. The vulnerability affects ZoneMinder versions prior to 1.36.27 and versions from 1.37.0 up to but not including 1.37.24. The issue has been addressed in versions 1.36.27 and 1.37.24. For users unable to upgrade, disabling database logging is recommended as a temporary mitigation to prevent malicious code from being stored and executed. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a common vector for XSS attacks.

For European organizations using ZoneMinder for CCTV and surveillance management, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality and integrity. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of legitimate users, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive surveillance data, manipulation of logs, or account takeover. This could compromise physical security monitoring, lead to privacy violations, and disrupt operational continuity. Given that ZoneMinder is often deployed in critical infrastructure environments such as transportation hubs, government facilities, and corporate campuses, the impact could extend to broader security risks including unauthorized surveillance or sabotage. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability but could indirectly cause service disruption if attackers leverage the XSS to escalate privileges or deploy further attacks. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation through crafted log entries and the persistence of malicious code in logs increase the threat over time if unpatched. Organizations with multiple users accessing the ZoneMinder web interface are particularly at risk due to the potential for widespread impact.

1. Immediate upgrade to ZoneMinder versions 1.36.27 or 1.37.24 where the vulnerability is patched. 2. For environments where immediate upgrade is not feasible, disable database logging to prevent malicious code from being stored and executed via logs. 3. Implement strict access controls on the ZoneMinder web interface to limit user permissions and reduce the attack surface. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the 'file' parameter or log viewing pages. 5. Regularly audit and sanitize existing logs to remove any potentially injected scripts. 6. Educate users to avoid opening suspicious logs and monitor for unusual activity in the ZoneMinder interface. 7. Monitor ZoneMinder and related system logs for signs of exploitation attempts or anomalous behavior. 8. Consider network segmentation to isolate ZoneMinder servers from less trusted networks and reduce exposure. 9. Keep all related software and dependencies up to date to minimize the risk of chained exploits.