CVE-2007-0852 in DevTrack
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in DevTrack 6.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "Keyword search" form field and unspecified other form fields that populate a public saved query. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0852 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within DevTrack 6.x software, specifically targeting the application's keyword search functionality and other form fields that contribute to public saved query mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. The security flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers who interact with the affected application's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from the keyword search form field and other unspecified form fields is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and displayed within the application's public saved query functionality. When legitimate users view these saved queries, the maliciously injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The unspecified nature of other affected form fields suggests that multiple input vectors within the application may be vulnerable to similar injection attacks, expanding the potential attack surface.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using DevTrack 6.x as it allows remote attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive project data or system resources. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation, steal authentication tokens, or redirect users to malicious sites. The fact that the vulnerability affects public saved queries means that any user with access to view these queries becomes a potential victim of the attack, amplifying the exposure for organizations that rely on collaborative features.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow processing. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through strict validation filters that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns commonly used in XSS attacks. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and utilizing modern web application frameworks that provide built-in XSS protection mechanisms would significantly reduce the risk. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process requires thorough code review and the implementation of secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for web application security.