CVE-2017-1000482 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
A member of the Plone 2.5-5.1rc1 site could set javascript in the home_page property of his profile, and have this executed when a visitor click the home page link on the author page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2019
This vulnerability exists within the Plone content management system affecting versions 2.5 through 5.1rc1, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that allows authenticated users to inject malicious javascript code into the home_page property of their user profiles. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the Plone framework's profile handling system. When a user sets javascript code in their home_page property field and another user clicks on the home page link displayed on the author page, the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This represents a classic stored cross-site scripting vulnerability where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed each time the affected page is accessed.
The technical flaw manifests through improper sanitization of user-controllable input within the profile management interface. When Plone renders the author page, it directly incorporates the home_page property value without adequate HTML escaping or content security policy enforcement. This allows attackers to inject javascript payloads that can execute with the privileges of the victim user, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before including it in web pages. The attack vector requires a low-privileged user to have the ability to modify their own profile information, making this a significant concern for collaborative environments where users may have profile modification capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session manipulation and privilege escalation attacks. An attacker could craft malicious javascript that steals session cookies, redirects users to phishing sites, or even injects additional malicious code into the page. The vulnerability affects all users who can access the author page functionality, potentially compromising any user account with sufficient privileges to modify their profile information. This creates a persistent threat that remains active until the vulnerability is patched, as the malicious code is stored server-side and executed automatically with each page view. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to the author page, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse author information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization measures across all user-controllable fields within the Plone profile system. Organizations should enforce strict content validation rules that prevent javascript execution within profile properties and implement proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content rendered on author pages. The recommended approach includes applying the official security patches released by Plone for affected versions, implementing content security policies that restrict script execution, and conducting regular security audits of user profile management systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing role-based access controls that limit profile modification capabilities to trusted administrators only, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous profile modifications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables attackers to execute malicious javascript code through legitimate user interface interactions. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block javascript injection attempts in profile-related parameters, and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence to identify similar vulnerabilities in related software components.