CVE-2017-13697 in FineCMS
Summary
by MITRE
controllers/member/api.php in dayrui FineCms 5.0.11 has XSS related to the dirname variable.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13697 resides within the dayrui FineCms content management system version 5.0.11, specifically in the member controller's api.php file. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper input validation and sanitization of the dirname parameter. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with member privileges to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user sessions or data exfiltration. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied directory name parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the typical pattern of reflected cross-site scripting attacks where the dirname variable is directly used in the application's output without adequate sanitization measures. When a user submits a request containing malicious script code within the dirname parameter, the application processes this input and includes it in the response without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding. This creates an environment where the injected script executes in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or incorrectly sanitize user-controllable input, making it a classic XSS flaw that can be exploited for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it represents a significant security risk for organizations using dayrui FineCms 5.0.11. An attacker who can manipulate the dirname parameter gains the ability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of other users, potentially compromising their sessions and accessing sensitive information. The attack requires minimal privileges since it targets authenticated member accounts, making it particularly dangerous in environments where member accounts have access to sensitive data or administrative functions. This vulnerability can be exploited to perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting users to phishing sites, or injecting malicious content that could persist across multiple user sessions.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework's T1531 technique for "Account Access Removal" and T1211 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as it can be leveraged to escalate privileges through session hijacking. The vulnerability also aligns with the principle of least privilege violations where a member account can be exploited to gain broader access than intended. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization for all user-supplied data. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation for the dirname parameter to reject potentially malicious content and applying proper HTML escaping techniques when incorporating user data into web responses. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to further mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications.