CVE-2016-9997 in SPIP
Summary
by MITRE
SPIP 3.1.x suffers from a Reflected Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in /ecrire/exec/puce_statut.php involving the `$id` parameter, as demonstrated by a /ecrire/?exec=puce_statut URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9997 represents a reflected cross site scripting flaw within the SPIP content management system version 3.1.x. This security weakness manifests in the /ecrire/exec/puce_statut.php script where the `$id` parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into the HTTP response. The vulnerability is specifically exploitable through the /ecrire/?exec=puce_statut URL structure, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate the query parameters to inject malicious scripts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to adequately filter user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses. When the `$id` parameter is passed through the URL and processed by the puce_statut.php script, the system directly incorporates this data into HTML output without appropriate encoding or validation mechanisms. This creates an environment where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that will execute within the context of a victim's browser when they access the vulnerable page.
From an operational perspective, this reflected XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to both administrators and end users of the affected SPIP installations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface of the CMS, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain full control over the affected web application.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in software applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries use web-based attacks to execute malicious code in user browsers. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the attack payload must be crafted to be delivered through a malicious link or email, making it a prime target for social engineering campaigns. Organizations using SPIP 3.1.x should immediately implement input validation and output encoding measures to prevent unauthorized script execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing proper input validation on all user-supplied parameters, applying output encoding before rendering any dynamic content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. The recommended solution involves sanitizing the `$id` parameter through proper escaping mechanisms before incorporating it into HTML responses, ensuring that any potentially dangerous characters are neutralized. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, though this should complement rather than replace proper input validation.