CVE-2017-14506 in geminabox
Summary
by MITRE
geminabox (aka Gem in a Box) before 0.13.6 has XSS, as demonstrated by uploading a gem file that has a crafted gem.homepage value in its .gemspec file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14506 affects geminabox versions prior to 0.13.6, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits the application's handling of gem metadata. This issue specifically manifests when users upload gem files containing maliciously crafted homepage values within their .gemspec metadata files. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The geminabox application serves as a gem server that allows developers to host and manage ruby gems, making it a potential attack vector for compromising developer environments and potentially leading to more severe security breaches.
The technical flaw occurs within the application's processing of gem metadata, particularly the homepage field that is extracted from .gemspec files during gem uploads. When a malicious gem is uploaded with a crafted homepage value containing script tags or other malicious code, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before displaying it to users within the gem listing interface. This lack of input validation and output sanitization creates an environment where user-supplied data can be executed as scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in web application development where trust is placed in user-provided data without adequate security controls to prevent code injection attacks. The issue is particularly concerning because gem servers are often used within development environments where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and potential lateral movement within development environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks against the underlying development infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only the geminabox application itself but also any developers who view the malicious gem listings, potentially compromising their development environments and the security of their applications. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where developers may have access to production systems or sensitive data, as it provides an attack surface that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to critical resources. The impact is further amplified by the fact that gem servers are often used in continuous integration pipelines and automated deployment processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to geminabox version 0.13.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize user input. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications, following the principle of least privilege and defense in depth. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of development tools and infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing not just the primary application but also supporting systems like gem servers that are integral to development workflows. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering, highlighting the need for comprehensive security awareness training and proper input sanitization practices. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in the broader software ecosystem.