CVE-2022-41706: Server Side XSS in Browsershot
Browsershot version 3.57.2 allows an external attacker to remotely obtain arbitrary local files. This is possible because the application does not validate the URL protocol passed to the Browsershot::url method.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-41706 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Browsershot version 3.57.2, a PHP package commonly used to convert webpages into images or PDFs by leveraging headless Chrome or similar browser engines. The vulnerability arises because the Browsershot::url method does not properly validate the URL protocol passed to it. This lack of validation allows an external attacker to craft malicious input that can lead to server-side cross-site scripting (XSS) and, more critically, enables the attacker to remotely access arbitrary local files on the server hosting the application. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which relates to improper neutralization of input leading to XSS. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 reflects the high impact due to the vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality (full access to local files), partial integrity (potential manipulation of some data), and no direct impact on availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), and the scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and high CVSS score suggest it is a significant risk, especially for web applications relying on Browsershot for rendering or capturing web content. The vulnerability could be exploited by sending specially crafted URLs to the vulnerable application, which then processes these URLs without proper protocol validation, leading to unauthorized file disclosure and potential injection of malicious scripts executed in the context of the server or downstream clients.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41706 can be substantial, especially for those using Browsershot in web services, content management systems, or automated reporting tools that generate images or PDFs from web content. The ability to remotely access arbitrary local files threatens the confidentiality of sensitive data, including intellectual property, customer information, and internal configuration files. Partial integrity compromise could allow attackers to inject malicious content or scripts, potentially leading to further exploitation such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability, but the breach of confidentiality and integrity can result in regulatory non-compliance, reputational damage, and financial losses. Given the GDPR framework in Europe, unauthorized disclosure of personal data could lead to significant fines and legal consequences. Additionally, organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely on automated document generation are at heightened risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and regulatory scrutiny.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-41706, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Immediately upgrade Browsershot to a version where this vulnerability is fixed or apply vendor-provided patches if available. Since no patch links are provided in the source, organizations should monitor official repositories or community advisories for updates. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all URLs passed to Browsershot::url, explicitly allowing only safe protocols such as 'http' and 'https' and rejecting or sanitizing others like 'file', 'ftp', or custom schemes that could lead to local file access. 3) Employ application-layer filtering to restrict the sources of URLs accepted by the application, ensuring only trusted or whitelisted domains are processed. 4) Use containerization or sandboxing techniques to isolate the Browsershot execution environment, limiting file system access and reducing the blast radius of any potential exploitation. 5) Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing focusing on URL handling and input validation in all components interacting with Browsershot. 6) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual requests or attempts to exploit URL parameters, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 7) Educate developers and security teams about the risks of improper URL validation and the importance of adhering to secure coding practices in third-party integrations.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium
CVE-2022-41706: Server Side XSS in Browsershot
Description
Browsershot version 3.57.2 allows an external attacker to remotely obtain arbitrary local files. This is possible because the application does not validate the URL protocol passed to the Browsershot::url method.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-41706 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Browsershot version 3.57.2, a PHP package commonly used to convert webpages into images or PDFs by leveraging headless Chrome or similar browser engines. The vulnerability arises because the Browsershot::url method does not properly validate the URL protocol passed to it. This lack of validation allows an external attacker to craft malicious input that can lead to server-side cross-site scripting (XSS) and, more critically, enables the attacker to remotely access arbitrary local files on the server hosting the application. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which relates to improper neutralization of input leading to XSS. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 reflects the high impact due to the vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality (full access to local files), partial integrity (potential manipulation of some data), and no direct impact on availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), and the scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and high CVSS score suggest it is a significant risk, especially for web applications relying on Browsershot for rendering or capturing web content. The vulnerability could be exploited by sending specially crafted URLs to the vulnerable application, which then processes these URLs without proper protocol validation, leading to unauthorized file disclosure and potential injection of malicious scripts executed in the context of the server or downstream clients.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41706 can be substantial, especially for those using Browsershot in web services, content management systems, or automated reporting tools that generate images or PDFs from web content. The ability to remotely access arbitrary local files threatens the confidentiality of sensitive data, including intellectual property, customer information, and internal configuration files. Partial integrity compromise could allow attackers to inject malicious content or scripts, potentially leading to further exploitation such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability, but the breach of confidentiality and integrity can result in regulatory non-compliance, reputational damage, and financial losses. Given the GDPR framework in Europe, unauthorized disclosure of personal data could lead to significant fines and legal consequences. Additionally, organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely on automated document generation are at heightened risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and regulatory scrutiny.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-41706, European organizations should take the following specific actions beyond generic patching advice: 1) Immediately upgrade Browsershot to a version where this vulnerability is fixed or apply vendor-provided patches if available. Since no patch links are provided in the source, organizations should monitor official repositories or community advisories for updates. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all URLs passed to Browsershot::url, explicitly allowing only safe protocols such as 'http' and 'https' and rejecting or sanitizing others like 'file', 'ftp', or custom schemes that could lead to local file access. 3) Employ application-layer filtering to restrict the sources of URLs accepted by the application, ensuring only trusted or whitelisted domains are processed. 4) Use containerization or sandboxing techniques to isolate the Browsershot execution environment, limiting file system access and reducing the blast radius of any potential exploitation. 5) Conduct thorough code reviews and security testing focusing on URL handling and input validation in all components interacting with Browsershot. 6) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual requests or attempts to exploit URL parameters, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 7) Educate developers and security teams about the risks of improper URL validation and the importance of adhering to secure coding practices in third-party integrations.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- Fluid Attacks
- Date Reserved
- 2022-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 682d983cc4522896dcbeedde
Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:09:16 AM
Last enriched: 6/22/2025, 11:05:19 AM
Last updated: 7/27/2025, 12:30:18 AM
Views: 11
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