CVE-2016-1216 in Garoon
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the "New appointment" function in Cybozu Garoon before 4.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The CVE-2016-1216 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cybozu Garoon's "New appointment" functionality prior to version 4.2.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw exists within the web interface's appointment creation process, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit user sessions and execute unauthorized actions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a core calendar and scheduling function that users frequently interact with, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the appointment creation form. When users enter appointment details, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through appointment titles, descriptions, or other editable fields. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is executed when users view the appointment details, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users access shared calendar systems. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting a malicious appointment entry containing script tags that execute when other users view the calendar.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1216 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. In a corporate environment, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized individuals to access sensitive calendar data, view private appointments, or even modify existing entries. The attack could be executed through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into clicking malicious links or viewing compromised appointment entries. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1531 for credential access through web applications. The risk is amplified in environments where users have elevated privileges or access to confidential scheduling information, as the compromise of a single calendar entry could provide attackers with insights into business operations and personnel schedules.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all Cybozu Garoon installations to version 4.2.2 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additional mitigations should include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within the application, enabling strict input validation for all user-entered data, and conducting regular security reviews of web application interfaces. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious appointment creation patterns can also help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to prevent social engineering attacks that leverage this vulnerability, as well as establishing incident response procedures for handling potential session hijacking or data theft scenarios that could result from successful exploitation.