CVE-2016-2163 in OpenMeetings
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache OpenMeetings before 3.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the event description when creating an event.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2022
The CVE-2016-2163 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apache OpenMeetings version 3.1.0 and earlier, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the event creation functionality where user-supplied input in event descriptions is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. Apache OpenMeetings is a comprehensive web conferencing platform that provides video conferencing, screen sharing, and collaboration features, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's event handling components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent or reflected XSS payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious event description containing embedded script code that gets stored in the application's database and subsequently rendered to other users viewing the event. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows for persistent XSS attacks where the malicious code becomes part of the stored content and executes every time the affected page is loaded. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in input sanitization and output encoding, which are fundamental requirements for preventing XSS attacks according to the OWASP Top Ten security framework. When users browse to pages displaying the malicious event descriptions, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially compromising their sessions and enabling attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the application's context.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2163 extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential pathways for more severe security incidents within organizations using Apache OpenMeetings. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal user authentication tokens, access confidential meeting information, manipulate calendar data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where users trust the content they receive from the application, making it easier for attackers to bypass security awareness and social engineering defenses. Organizations utilizing this platform for sensitive business meetings, educational sessions, or healthcare consultations face increased risk of data breaches and privacy violations. The vulnerability also impacts the overall trust in the platform's security posture, potentially leading to compliance violations in regulated environments where data protection is mandatory. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access Through Persistence, as attackers can establish persistent access through malicious script injection and maintain compromised sessions.
Organizations should immediately apply the security patch released with Apache OpenMeetings version 3.1.1 to remediate this vulnerability. The patch implements proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious script content from being executed when rendering event descriptions. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments of the application environment. Input sanitization should be implemented at multiple layers including application code, database storage, and output rendering to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper security testing of web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain an overall security posture that addresses both known and emerging threats in the web application landscape.