CVE-2016-7147 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the manage_findResult component in the search feature in Zope ZMI in Plone before 4.3.12 and 5.x before 5.0.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving double quotes, as demonstrated by the obj_ids:tokens parameter. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-7140.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2020
The CVE-2016-7147 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the Zope Management Interface (ZMI) of the Plone content management system, specifically within the manage_findResult component of the search functionality. This vulnerability affects Plone versions prior to 4.3.12 and 5.x versions prior to 5.0.7, demonstrating the persistent nature of security flaws that can linger despite attempted fixes. The vulnerability arises from an incomplete remediation of a previous XSS issue documented as CVE-2016-7140, creating a dangerous scenario where organizations may believe they have addressed security concerns only to discover that the underlying flaw remains exploitable through alternative vectors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the obj_ids:tokens parameter within the search feature, where attackers can inject malicious web scripts or HTML code by leveraging double quote characters in their input. This particular vector demonstrates how attackers can bypass existing security measures by using different encoding or parameter manipulation techniques that were not fully addressed in the initial patch. The vulnerability specifically targets the ZMI interface which provides administrative access to Plone systems, making it particularly dangerous as it allows unauthorized users to execute malicious code within the context of other users' sessions. The use of double quotes as the injection mechanism indicates that the vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding practices in the parameter handling code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and potentially gain full control over Plone installations. When an administrator or authenticated user accesses the affected search functionality, the malicious code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to data theft, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in the ZMI component is particularly concerning because this interface provides powerful administrative capabilities, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations relying on Plone for content management. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate search results, inject malicious payloads into the interface, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the Plone environment.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching to the affected Plone versions, along with additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls and input validation controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conducting thorough security testing of all user input handling components, and monitoring for suspicious search queries that might indicate exploitation attempts. The incomplete fix scenario underscores the importance of thorough vulnerability analysis and the need for comprehensive regression testing when addressing security patches to ensure that all attack vectors are properly mitigated.