CVE-2017-10801 in phpSocial
Summary
by MITRE
phpSocial (formerly phpDolphin) before 3.0.1 has XSS in the PATH_INFO to the search/tag/ URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-10801 affects phpSocial, formerly known as phpDolphin, versions prior to 3.0.1 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that occurs within the application's handling of PATH_INFO parameters. This issue specifically manifests when users navigate to the search/tag/ URI endpoint, where the application fails to properly sanitize input data passed through the PATH_INFO component of the URL structure. The vulnerability stems from the application's insecure direct object reference implementation and inadequate input validation mechanisms that allow malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the application's response. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the PATH_INFO portion of the request. When the phpSocial application processes this request and incorporates the unsanitized input into the search/tag/ URI response, the embedded scripts execute within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability specifically leverages the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it in the web response, creating an environment where client-side code can be executed without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially sensitive information within the phpSocial application ecosystem. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal cookies, session tokens, or personal user data, particularly affecting users who have administrative privileges or access to sensitive content. The vulnerability affects the application's core search functionality and tag handling mechanisms, which are frequently used features that increase the attack surface and potential exposure. This issue directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data and can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and application functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10801 involve immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the phpSocial application codebase. The primary fix requires sanitizing all PATH_INFO parameters before processing them in the search/tag/ URI handlers, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, and applying Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also consider upgrading to phpSocial version 3.0.1 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, specifically targeting the command and control phases where attackers leverage client-side vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to target systems.