CVE-2017-10673 in GetSimple
Summary
by MITRE
admin/profile.php in GetSimple CMS 3.x has XSS in a name field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10673 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located in the admin/profile.php file of GetSimple CMS version 3.x series. This issue specifically affects the name field parameter within the administrative profile management interface, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it in the web application's response.
This cross-site scripting vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The flaw operates by allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the name field parameter, which then gets executed when other users view the affected profile page. The attack vector is particularly concerning in administrative contexts where the compromised session would provide elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete administrative compromise of the GetSimple CMS instance. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive configuration data, modify content, or even install malicious payloads that persist across system restarts. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system, particularly when administrators are logged in and viewing profile information. The XSS attack can be delivered through various means including social engineering tactics where administrators are tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised pages that contain the malicious script payload.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping techniques before rendering any data in web responses, specifically implementing context-aware encoding for html, javascript, and attribute contexts. Organizations should apply the official patch released by GetSimple CMS developers, which typically involves updating the affected file to properly sanitize the name field parameter. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application codebase, following established security development lifecycle practices.