CVE-2017-1000217 in Opencast
Summary
by MITRE
Opencast 2.3.2 and older versions are vulnerable to script injections through media and metadata in the player and media module resulting in arbitrary code execution, fixed in 2.3.3 and 3.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000217 represents a critical security flaw in Opencast media management systems affecting versions 2.3.2 and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the player and media modules, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary scripts into the system. The flaw specifically targets the handling of media and metadata parameters that are processed by the application's core components, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the software through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper sanitization measures in the media processing pipeline where user-supplied metadata and media identifiers are directly incorporated into system operations without adequate validation. When the system processes these inputs, it fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could alter the execution context of the application. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that are subsequently executed within the context of the web application, potentially granting full control over the affected system. The vulnerability manifests as a classic cross-site scripting attack vector that has been escalated to achieve arbitrary code execution capabilities through improper handling of media metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within media management environments that rely on Opencast platforms. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected servers, access sensitive media content, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Opencast face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized content manipulation, and potential disruption of media services that are often critical for educational institutions, government agencies, and corporate communications. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of media processing and playback, making it particularly dangerous in environments where media content is regularly ingested and distributed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1000217 require immediate deployment of patches and updates to versions 2.3.3 or 3.0, which contain the necessary fixes for input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement comprehensive input filtering mechanisms that properly escape special characters and validate all media and metadata parameters before processing. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable components, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-79 issue related to cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, implementing proper output encoding and input validation techniques that align with industry standards for secure web application development. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous script execution patterns, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar injection attacks.