CVE-2022-39290 is a security vulnerability affecting ZoneMinder, an open-source closed-circuit television (CCTV) software widely used for video surveillance management. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, indicating improper authentication mechanisms. Specifically, the issue arises because authenticated users can bypass Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protections by altering the HTTP request method from POST to GET and removing the CSRF token from the request. Normally, CSRF tokens prevent unauthorized commands from being transmitted by ensuring that state-changing requests originate from legitimate users. However, in affected versions of ZoneMinder (versions prior to 1.36.27 and versions from 1.37.0 up to but not including 1.37.24), this protection can be circumvented. This bypass allows an attacker to craft malicious HTTP GET requests that can trigger actions on behalf of an authenticated user without their consent or knowledge. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have the ability to induce an authenticated user to execute the malicious GET request, which could be achieved through social engineering or by embedding malicious links in web pages or emails. There are no known workarounds for this issue, and users are advised to upgrade to patched versions as soon as possible. Although there are no known exploits in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk because it undermines the integrity of the authentication and authorization process within the ZoneMinder web application, potentially allowing unauthorized actions that could affect system configuration, surveillance operations, or data integrity.

For European organizations using ZoneMinder for CCTV and surveillance management, this vulnerability could have significant operational and security impacts. Unauthorized actions performed via CSRF bypass could lead to manipulation or disruption of surveillance feeds, unauthorized changes to system settings, or even disabling of cameras, thereby compromising physical security. This could affect critical infrastructure, corporate facilities, public spaces, and government buildings relying on ZoneMinder for monitoring. The confidentiality of surveillance data could also be at risk if attackers manipulate the system to access or alter video streams. The integrity and availability of surveillance services are directly threatened, potentially leading to blind spots or loss of evidence in security incidents. Given the reliance on CCTV for law enforcement and public safety in Europe, exploitation of this vulnerability could have broader societal impacts. The requirement for an attacker to induce an authenticated user to perform the malicious request somewhat limits the attack vector but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may be less security-aware or where phishing attacks are prevalent.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading ZoneMinder installations to versions later than 1.36.27 or 1.37.24 where the issue is resolved. Since no workarounds exist, patching is the primary defense. Additionally, organizations should implement strict network segmentation to limit access to the ZoneMinder web interface only to trusted users and networks, reducing exposure to potential attackers. Employing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access to the ZoneMinder interface can reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit the vulnerability. Monitoring and logging web application requests for unusual GET requests that perform state-changing actions can help detect exploitation attempts. User education on phishing and social engineering risks is critical to prevent attackers from tricking authenticated users into executing malicious requests. Where feasible, deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious GET requests that attempt to perform actions normally restricted to POST requests may provide additional protection. Finally, organizations should review and harden their overall web application security posture, including regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on authentication and CSRF protections.