CVE-2022-42097: Backdrop/backdrop Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g9cp-9fw3-56cf
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CVSS 4.8
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-42097 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Backdrop/backdrop libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting in backdrop cms. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2022-42097 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-42097
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g9cp-9fw3-56cf
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Backdrop/backdrop
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2022-42097

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Backdrop/backdrop dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

backdrop/backdrop fixed: Latest secure release 
Upgrade backdrop/backdrop to Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2022-42097, inspect your project dependencies for Backdrop/backdrop:

inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Backdrop/backdrop in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Backdrop/backdrop, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Backdrop CMS version 1.23.0 was discovered to contain a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via 'Comment.'s

CVE-2022-42097 Affected Backdrop/backdrop Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
backdrop/backdrop
 Packagist
≤ 1.23.0

References

NVD — CVE-2022-42097 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-42097
backdropcms.org WEB
https://backdropcms.org
Backdrop/backdrop Release RELEASE
https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.23.0
Backdrop/backdrop Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/bypazs/CVE-2022-42097
grimthereaperteam.medium.com/cve-2022-42097-back... WEB
https://grimthereaperteam.medium.com/cve-2022-42097-backdrop-xss-at-comments-2ea536ec55e1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-42097?
CVE-2022-42097 is a security vulnerability in Backdrop/backdrop involving Cross-site Scripting in Backdrop CMS under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Backdrop/backdrop versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: backdrop/backdrop.
What version fixes CVE-2022-42097?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is backdrop/backdrop affected?
Yes, backdrop/backdrop is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-42097?
CVE-2022-42097 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-42097?
CVE-2022-42097 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2022-42097?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for backdrop/backdrop'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-g9cp-9fw3-56cf",
  "modified" : "2025-04-29T15:35:36Z",
  "published" : "2022-11-22T15:30:26Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-42097" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-site Scripting in Backdrop CMS",
  "details" : "Backdrop CMS version 1.23.0 was discovered to contain a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via 'Comment.'s",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "backdrop/backdrop"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.23.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-42097"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://backdropcms.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.23.0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/bypazs/CVE-2022-42097"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://grimthereaperteam.medium.com/cve-2022-42097-backdrop-xss-at-comments-2ea536ec55e1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-22T19:14:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-11-22T13:15:00Z"
  }
}