CVE-2022-45338 is an arbitrary file upload vulnerability affecting Exact Synergy Enterprise versions 267 prior to 267SP13 and 500 prior to 500SP6. The vulnerability exists in the profile picture upload functionality, where an attacker can upload a crafted SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file. SVG files are XML-based vector image files that can contain embedded scripts or malicious payloads. Due to insufficient validation or sanitization of the uploaded SVG content, an attacker can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the Exact Synergy Enterprise application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type), indicating that the application does not properly restrict or validate the file types or contents being uploaded. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting a high severity level. The vector indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but requires user interaction (UI:R). The impact is high on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for remote code execution via a seemingly innocuous profile picture upload feature. Exact Synergy Enterprise is a business process management and collaboration platform used by organizations for workflow automation and document management, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise environments.

For European organizations using Exact Synergy Enterprise versions prior to the patched releases, this vulnerability presents a critical risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain control over the affected systems. This could result in data breaches involving sensitive corporate or personal data, disruption of business processes, and potential lateral movement within the network. Given that Exact Synergy is often used in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and public administration, the impact could extend to critical infrastructure and services. The requirement for local access or user interaction somewhat limits the attack vector; however, social engineering or insider threats could facilitate exploitation. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that organizations could face severe operational and reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR, and financial losses. Additionally, the lack of known public exploits may lead to underestimation of the threat, increasing the risk of delayed patching and exposure.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should upgrade Exact Synergy Enterprise to version 267SP13 or later for the 267 branch, or 500SP6 or later for the 500 branch, as these versions contain fixes for this vulnerability. 2. File upload restrictions: Implement strict server-side validation to restrict allowed file types and sanitize SVG files to remove any embedded scripts or potentially malicious content. 3. Disable SVG uploads: If profile pictures do not require SVG format, disable SVG uploads entirely or convert uploaded SVGs to safe raster formats (e.g., PNG) server-side. 4. Network segmentation: Limit access to the Exact Synergy Enterprise application to trusted internal networks and users to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 5. User awareness training: Educate users about the risks of uploading files from untrusted sources and the dangers of social engineering that could lead to exploitation. 6. Monitoring and detection: Deploy file integrity monitoring and application-layer logging to detect suspicious upload activities or anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Incident response readiness: Prepare and test incident response plans specifically for web application compromises involving file upload vulnerabilities. 8. Least privilege: Ensure the application and its underlying services run with minimal privileges to limit the impact of any successful code execution.