CVE-2016-1609 in Filr
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Novell Filr before 1.2 Security Update 3 and 2.0 before Security Update 2 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input, as demonstrated by a crafted attribute of an IMG element in the phone field of a user profile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1609 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Novell Filr software versions prior to specific security updates. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user input within profile management interfaces, specifically affecting the phone field attribute processing. The vulnerability enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's user interface, creating persistent security risks for all users within the system. The issue manifests when users manipulate input fields through crafted attributes within IMG elements, demonstrating the sophisticated nature of the attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Novell Filr application. When users submit profile information containing specially crafted HTML attributes, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape these inputs before rendering them in subsequent web pages. This processing gap creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the browser context of legitimate users who view affected profile pages. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Cross-site Scripting" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Spoofed Credentials" and T1566.002 for "Spearphishing Attachment" when considering the broader attack surface implications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that the vulnerability requires authentication, attackers must first compromise legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this weakness to escalate their access within the system. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious content is injected, it continues to affect users until the profile is modified or the vulnerability is patched. This creates ongoing exposure for organizations using affected versions of Novell Filr.
Organizations should immediately implement the security updates provided by Novell for both version 1.2 and 2.0 of the Filr application, specifically applying Security Update 3 for version 1.2 and Security Update 2 for version 2.0. Additionally, network administrators should implement input validation controls at the application level and consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious input patterns. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications, as this type of flaw frequently occurs in web applications that process user-generated content. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the importance of maintaining secure authentication practices and monitoring for suspicious profile modifications.