CVE-2016-6186 in Django
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the dismissChangeRelatedObjectPopup function in contrib/admin/static/admin/js/admin/RelatedObjectLookups.js in Django before 1.8.14, 1.9.x before 1.9.8, and 1.10.x before 1.10rc1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving unsafe usage of Element.innerHTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The CVE-2016-6186 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Django web framework's administrative interface. This vulnerability exists in the dismissChangeRelatedObjectPopup function located in the contrib/admin/static/admin/js/admin/RelatedObjectLookups.js file, which is part of Django's built-in admin interface. The flaw affects multiple versions of Django including those before 1.8.14, 1.9.x before 1.9.8, and 1.10.x before 1.10rc1, making it a widespread concern for developers and administrators using these framework versions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the unsafe usage of Element.innerHTML within the JavaScript code. When the dismissChangeRelatedObjectPopup function processes user input, it directly assigns data to the innerHTML property of DOM elements without proper sanitization or encoding. This pattern violates fundamental security principles for preventing XSS attacks and creates an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content. The vulnerability specifically occurs when the admin interface handles related object lookups and popup dismissals, where user-provided data flows through the JavaScript execution path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated admin sessions. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially crafted input that gets processed through the affected JavaScript function. Once executed, the injected code could perform actions such as stealing session cookies, modifying administrative data, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even executing further attacks within the application's administrative environment. The severity is amplified because the vulnerability exists within the Django admin interface, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which defines Cross-site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the T1059.007 sub-technique, specifically targeting JavaScript injection within web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of Django applications, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6186 involve immediate upgrading to patched versions of Django where the vulnerability has been resolved. Organizations should prioritize updating their Django installations to versions 1.8.14, 1.9.8, or 1.10rc1 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures, particularly when handling user data in JavaScript contexts. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on JavaScript execution paths and DOM manipulation should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom applications built on the Django framework.