CVE-2017-11439 in Sitecore
Summary
by MITRE
In Sitecore 8.2, there is reflected XSS in the shell/Applications/Tools/Run Program parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11439 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within Sitecore 8.2 content management system, specifically affecting the shell/Applications/Tools/Run Program parameter. This security weakness resides in the web application's user interface components that handle administrative tasks, creating an attack surface where malicious input can be executed within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web responses.
The technical exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script payloads and injects it into the Run Program parameter of the Sitecore administrative interface. When an authenticated user navigates to the affected page with the malicious input, the web application reflects the script code back to the user's browser without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as reflected cross-site scripting that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the Sitecore environment. An attacker with access to the administrative interface could potentially escalate privileges, manipulate content, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the content management system. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload must be delivered through social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or compromised links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with external sources. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the Sitecore platform, potentially compromising the entire content management infrastructure that organizations rely upon for their digital presence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11439 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Sitecore application. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and validated before being processed or displayed within the web interface. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against reflected XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Regular security updates and patches from Sitecore should be applied immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and privileged access controls can help limit the potential impact if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators can reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that exploit this reflected XSS vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability.