CVE-2016-1179 in A-Blog CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the standard template of the comment functionality in appleple a-blog cms 2.6.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1179 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the appleple a-blog content management system version 2.6.0.1 and earlier releases. This issue specifically targets the standard template implementation of the comment functionality, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user input data submitted through the comment section, which fails to adequately validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious content through the comment form that contains embedded script tags or other HTML elements designed to execute in the browser context of other users viewing the affected content. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the comment processing pipeline where user-supplied data is directly rendered without proper input validation or output encoding mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for website administrators and their visitors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or defacement of the affected blog content. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be combined with other techniques to create persistent threats that compromise user trust and potentially lead to broader system compromise. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the comment functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user-generated content is prevalent.
The attack vector for CVE-2016-1179 follows the typical pattern outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, specifically targeting the web application layer where user input is processed. The vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK tactic of Execution and Persistence, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to maintain access through malicious scripts embedded in legitimate user comments. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input validation, a common weakness that violates security best practices and can be addressed through proper implementation of input sanitization, output encoding, and Content Security Policy enforcement. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of the CMS, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust security testing practices to identify and remediate similar flaws in web applications.
The remediation approach should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies that prevent malicious scripts from being executed. This includes updating the appleple a-blog CMS to version 2.6.0.2 or later where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-generated content, and establishing strict content validation rules for comment submissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to further limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and deploy monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of thorough security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such persistent threats from compromising web applications.