CVE-2022-23598

Cross-site Scripting when rendering error messages in laminas-form

use Laminas\Form\ElementInterface;
use Laminas\View\PhpRenderer;

$escapeMessages = function (ElementInterface $formOrElement, PhpRenderer $renderer): void {
    $messages = $element->getMessages();
    if (! $messages) {
        return;
    }

    $escaped  = [];
    array_walk_recursive(
        $messages,
        static function (string $item) use (&$escaped, $renderer): void {
            $escaped[] = $renderer->escapeHtml($item);
        }
    };

    $element->setMessages($escaped);
};

// Usage with a form
// $this is the view renderer
$escapeMessages($form, $this);

// Usage with a fieldset
// $this is the view renderer
$escapeMessages($fieldset, $this);

// Usage with a form element
// $this is the view renderer
$escapeMessages($element, $this);

When rendering validation error messages via the formElementErrors() view helper shipped with laminas-form, many messages will contain the submitted value. However, in vulnerable versions of laminas-form, the value was not being escaped for HTML contexts, which can potentially lead to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack.

Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session. Typical impact: session or credential theft, and actions taken as the user.

CVE-2022-23598 has a CVSS score of 6.1 (Medium). The vector is network-reachable, no privileges required, and user interaction required. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (3.1.1, 3.0.2, 2.17.1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

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The following versions were issued to mitigate the vulnerability:

• 2.17.1
• 3.0.2
• 3.1.1

1. What is CVE-2022-23598? CVE-2022-23598 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in laminas/laminas-form (composer), affecting versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.1.1. It is fixed in 3.1.1, 3.0.2, 2.17.1. Untrusted input is rendered as active markup in a victim's browser, which can run script in their session.
2. How severe is CVE-2022-23598? CVE-2022-23598 has a CVSS score of 6.1 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of laminas/laminas-form are affected by CVE-2022-23598? laminas/laminas-form (composer) versions >= 3.1.0, < 3.1.1 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2022-23598? Yes. CVE-2022-23598 is fixed in 3.1.1, 3.0.2, 2.17.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2022-23598 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2022-23598 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2022-23598 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2022-23598?
   • Upgrade laminas/laminas-form to 3.1.1 or later
   • Upgrade laminas/laminas-form to 3.0.2 or later
   • Upgrade laminas/laminas-form to 2.17.1 or later