CVE-2022-50964: uBidAuction Reflected XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2022-50964 Overview

CVE-2022-50964 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in uBidAuction 2.0.1, a PHP-based auction script distributed by AppHP. The flaw resides in the auctions/myAuctions/status/loose module, where the filter parameters date_created, date_from, date_to, and created_at are reflected into HTTP responses without proper output encoding or input sanitization. Remote attackers can craft malicious GET requests that execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of a victim's browser session. The weakness is categorized under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation enables session hijacking, credential theft, and arbitrary actions performed within authenticated auction sessions through crafted links delivered to victims.

Affected Products

• AppHP uBidAuction 2.0.1
• uBidAuction PHP Classic and Bid Auctions Script
• Deployments exposing the auctions/myAuctions/status/loose endpoint

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-10 - CVE-2022-50964 published to NVD
• 2026-05-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-50964

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the filter functionality of the myAuctions/status/loose module within uBidAuction 2.0.1. The application accepts user-controlled values through the date_created, date_from, date_to, and created_at GET parameters and reflects those values into the rendered HTML response. The application fails to apply contextual output encoding or input validation before embedding the parameters in the page. An attacker can inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript that executes when a victim loads a crafted URL.

Reflected XSS in an authenticated auction workflow allows attackers to steal session cookies, manipulate bids, modify account details, or pivot to further client-side attacks. Because user interaction is required, exploitation typically leverages phishing emails, malicious links, or third-party site embedding.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing output encoding on filter parameters used to render the loose auction status view. The PHP code paths handling these parameters do not apply htmlspecialchars() or equivalent context-aware escaping before echoing values into HTML attribute or element contexts.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network via a crafted GET request. The attacker delivers a URL containing JavaScript payloads in one of the vulnerable filter parameters. When an authenticated user clicks the link, the payload executes in their browser under the application origin. Refer to the VulnCheck Security Advisory and Exploit-DB #50693 for proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-50964

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP GET requests to auctions/myAuctions/status/loose containing <script>, onerror=, onload=, or URL-encoded equivalents in date_created, date_from, date_to, or created_at parameters
• Referrer headers from untrusted domains directing users to the auction module with unusual query strings
• Web server access logs showing repeated probing of filter parameters with HTML or JavaScript syntax

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect query parameters for XSS payload patterns targeting the myAuctions module
• Correlate authenticated session activity with anomalous outbound requests originating from browser sessions, indicating possible cookie exfiltration
• Review application logs for reflected parameter values containing angle brackets, javascript: URIs, or event handler attributes

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose HTTP request logging on the auction application and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
• Alert on POST or GET parameters that contain script tags or encoded XSS signatures across all auction endpoints
• Monitor user account changes and bid modifications occurring shortly after access to crafted filter URLs

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-50964

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict public access to the auctions/myAuctions/status/loose endpoint until output encoding fixes are applied
• Apply server-side input validation on the date_created, date_from, date_to, and created_at parameters to accept only valid date formats
• Enforce a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) that disallows inline scripts and untrusted script sources
• Rotate session cookies and force reauthentication for users who may have followed suspicious links

Patch Information

No vendor patch is referenced in the available advisories. Administrators running uBidAuction 2.0.1 should contact AppHP for an updated release or apply manual code-level fixes. Review the AppHP Auction Script product page and the Vulnerability Lab advisory #2289 for vendor coordination and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Add server-side sanitization using htmlspecialchars($value, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') before reflecting filter parameters in HTML output
• Configure a WAF rule to block requests where date filter parameters contain non-date characters such as <, >, ", or '
• Set the HttpOnly and SameSite=Strict flags on session cookies to limit the impact of script execution

# Example ModSecurity rule blocking XSS payloads on the vulnerable endpoint
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /auctions/myAuctions/status/loose" \
    "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1009001,msg:'CVE-2022-50964 XSS attempt'"
    SecRule ARGS:date_created|ARGS:date_from|ARGS:date_to|ARGS:created_at \
        "@rx (?i)(<script|onerror=|onload=|javascript:|<svg|<img)"