CVE-2017-10962 in REDCap
Summary
by MITRE
REDCap before 7.5.1 has XSS via the query string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10962 affects REDCap versions prior to 7.5.1 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that exists within the application's handling of query string parameters. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly process user-supplied data when it is passed through URL query strings. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on REDCap for data management and research collection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when REDCap processes query string parameters without adequate sanitization or encoding of user input. When a user visits a page with a maliciously crafted query string, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw specifically manifests when the application directly incorporates query string values into dynamic web content without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the REDCap environment. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by an authenticated user, would execute scripts in their browser context. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive research data, modification of database entries, or even complete compromise of the REDCap instance if the attacker can escalate privileges through the executed malicious code.
Organizations using REDCap versions prior to 7.5.1 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation and output encoding for all query string parameters, deployment of web application firewalls, and comprehensive security testing of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering through malicious links and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to REDCap version 7.5.1 or later, implementing proper input sanitization routines, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications.