# CVE-2022-45782: Weak cryptography in n/a

> Insecure random generation for password-reset tokens allows attackers to predict tokens and take over user accounts in dotCMS.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Feb 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rg9r-f32f-755r

## What is CVE-2022-45782?

CVE-2022-45782 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dotcms Dotcms, published on 1 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in dotCMS core 5.3.8.5 through 5.3.8.15 and 21.03 through 22.10.1. A cryptographically insecure random generation algorithm for password-reset token generation leads to account takeover.

Weakness: CWE-338 (Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG))

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-45782?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dotcms Dotcms.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-45782?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-45782 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-45782 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45782 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Proof-of-concept for CVE-2022-45782: predictable dotCMS password-reset tokens, with a token cracker and full exploit chain. (github_poc): https://github.com/ninajafli/DotCMS-CVE-2022-45782

## Other vulnerabilities in Dotcms Dotcms

- [CVE-2022-26352](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26352/): dotCMS Unrestricted Upload of File (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-19138](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-19138/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-6754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-6754/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-5344](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5344/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-2355](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2355/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-45782 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-45782 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dotcms Dotcms, published on 1 Feb 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45782 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dotcms Dotcms. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45782/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45782/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-45782
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-45782
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-45782

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45782/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.