CVE-2017-1000488 in Mautic
Summary
by MITRE
Mautic version 2.1.0 - 2.11.0 is vulnerable to an inline JS XSS attack when using Mautic forms on a Mautic landing page using GET parameters to pre-populate the form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000488 affects Mautic versions ranging from 2.1.0 through 2.11.0 and represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the form handling functionality within the platform. This vulnerability occurs when Mautic forms are embedded on landing pages and utilize GET parameters to pre-populate form fields, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code directly into the form rendering process. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of URL parameters that are passed to form fields, enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the way Mautic processes and renders form data when GET parameters are present in the URL. When users navigate to a landing page containing a form that includes GET parameters for pre-population, the system fails to properly sanitize these parameters before injecting them into the HTML output. This creates a classic inline javascript cross-site scripting condition where attacker-controlled data flows directly into the browser without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability specifically affects the form rendering engine and occurs at the point where dynamic content is merged with static form templates, making it particularly dangerous as it can execute within the same security context as legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the authenticated user context to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even modifying form submissions to capture sensitive data. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing JavaScript payloads that execute when the form loads, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core user interaction mechanisms of the marketing automation platform, potentially allowing attackers to intercept form submissions, manipulate user experience, or conduct further reconnaissance within the application environment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for input validation and output encoding.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Mautic installations to versions that properly sanitize GET parameters before rendering them in form contexts. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including URL parameter sanitization, HTML output encoding, and strict content security policy enforcement. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole remediation. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all form-based interactions within their Mautic deployments to identify and remediate similar patterns that might exist in custom integrations or third-party modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly when it flows into dynamic content rendering contexts, and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the application lifecycle to prevent such flaws from reaching production environments.