CVE-2017-14715 in epesi
Summary
by MITRE
In EPESI 1.8.2 rev20170830, there is Stored XSS in the Tasks Alerts Title parameter.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2017-14715 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw discovered in EPESI version 1.8.2 revision 20170830. This vulnerability specifically affects the Tasks Alerts Title parameter within the web application's user interface, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of affected users' browsers. The flaw resides in how the application processes and stores user input for task alert titles without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever the affected content is rendered to users.
This stored XSS vulnerability operates through a classic attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious input containing JavaScript code within the Tasks Alerts Title field, submits it to the application, and the malicious payload gets stored in the database. When other users view the task alerts or related interfaces, their browsers execute the stored script, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser environment. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the lack of input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should normally prevent such malicious content from being stored and executed. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability where the flaw occurs in the storage phase rather than the immediate input processing, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious code can affect multiple users over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised user sessions. Attackers can use this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify user permissions, access sensitive data, or redirect users to malicious sites. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists in a user-facing interface component that typically requires no special authentication. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1531 for credential access, as it can be used to establish persistent access and harvest user credentials. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's data and user sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise if exploited effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14715 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user input, particularly in fields that are stored and later rendered to other users, implementing proper HTML escaping for all output contexts, and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also implement proper input length limits, character set restrictions, and regular security scanning of user-facing parameters to identify similar vulnerabilities. The recommended approach includes upgrading to a patched version of EPESI if available, or implementing application-level defenses such as Web Application Firewall rules that can detect and block malicious payloads in real-time. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious alerts and regular security audits of application components can help prevent exploitation, though the fundamental solution requires proper application code remediation to address the root cause of the stored XSS vulnerability in the Tasks Alerts Title parameter.