CVE-2017-1000023 in LogicalDoc CommunityEdition
Summary
by MITRE
LogicalDoc CommunityEdition 7.5.3 and prior is vulnerable to an XSS when using preview on HTML document
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000023 affects LogicalDoc Community Edition version 7.5.3 and earlier, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that emerges during the HTML document preview functionality. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the document preview module, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability specifically manifests when users attempt to preview HTML documents within the LogicalDoc interface, where the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied content before rendering it in the browser context.
The technical flaw resides in the application's failure to implement proper sanitization controls for HTML content during preview operations. When a user uploads or accesses an HTML document that contains malicious script tags, the system processes this content without adequate filtering or encoding, allowing the injected scripts to execute within the context of other users' browsing sessions. This represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that aligns with CWE-79, which defines the weakness as the failure to properly encode output, leading to script execution in web browsers. The vulnerability operates under the principle that user-provided content is not sufficiently validated or escaped before being rendered to end users, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be delivered and executed without user interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. An attacker could craft a malicious HTML document containing JavaScript payloads that, when previewed by another user, would execute in their browser context. This capability allows for session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the LogicalDoc environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in collaborative document management systems where users frequently preview various file types, as it creates a persistent attack vector that could be exploited by any user with access to upload or view documents. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious file execution, and T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the document preview functionality. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied HTML content undergoes strict sanitization before rendering, utilizing established libraries or frameworks designed for HTML sanitization such as OWASP Java HTML Sanitizer or similar tools. The system should enforce proper content security policies that prevent script execution in preview contexts and implement proper encoding for all dynamic content. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to address similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the risks of previewing untrusted documents, and access controls should be enforced to limit who can upload or view sensitive content. The remediation process should also include thorough code review of the preview module to identify and address any other potential injection points that may exist within the application's document handling functionality.