CVE-2022-47196: ghost foundation ghost Insecure Default Variable Initialization

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2022-47196 is a critical (CVSS 9.0) Insecure Default Variable Initialization vulnerability in ghost foundation ghost. EPSS estimates a 0.68% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 51.6% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 19-01-2023
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 04-11-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

An insecure default vulnerability exists in the Post Creation functionality of Ghost Foundation Ghost 5.9.4. Default installations of Ghost allow non-administrator users to inject arbitrary Javascript in posts, which allow privilege escalation to administrator via XSS. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can send an HTTP request to inject Javascript in a post to trick an administrator into visiting the post.A stored XSS vulnerability exists in the `codeinjection_head` for a post.

• CWE-453Insecure Default Variable InitializationThe product, by default, initializes an internal variable with an insecure or less secure value than is possible.
• CWE-79Improper 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.
• CWE-1188Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure DefaultThe product initializes or sets a resource with a default that is intended to be changed by the product's installer, administrator, or maintainer, but the default is not secure.