CVE-2017-14620 in SmarterStats
Summary
by MITRE
SmarterStats Version 11.3.6347 will Render the Referer Field of HTTP Logfiles from URL /Data/Reports/ReferringURLsWithQueries resulting in Stored Cross Site Scripting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14620 affects SmarterStats version 11.3.6347 and represents a stored cross site scripting flaw that occurs when processing HTTP logfiles. This issue specifically manifests in the /Data/Reports/ReferringURLsWithQueries URL endpoint where the Referer field from incoming HTTP requests is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the application's output. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious script code into the referer field of HTTP requests that are subsequently stored in the application's data files and displayed to users who access the affected reporting functionality. This creates a persistent security risk where malicious payloads can be executed whenever legitimate users view the referer reports, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process and display user-generated referer information from web traffic logs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the SmarterStats application. When HTTP requests are processed and their referer headers are logged and subsequently displayed in the ReferringURLsWithQueries report, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize the referer data before rendering it in the HTML context. This violates fundamental security principles and represents a classic stored XSS vulnerability pattern where malicious input is first stored in the application's database or file system and then executed during subsequent user interactions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the affected application.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14620 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data and session information. When legitimate users view the referer reports, their browsers will execute the stored malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality by allowing unauthorized code execution, and may enable attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to the application's backend systems. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payloads can persist for extended periods, potentially affecting multiple users over time and making the impact more severe than a reflected XSS variant that only affects the current session.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied data, particularly referer headers, before storing or rendering them in any HTML context. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for special characters and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious referer data patterns, and regularly update the SmarterStats application to versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual referer patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components that could be exploited through similar attack vectors.