CVE-2017-14717 in epesi
Summary
by MITRE
In EPESI 1.8.2 rev20170830, there is Stored XSS in the Tasks Description parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2017-14717 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw discovered in EPESI version 1.8.2 revision 20170830. This vulnerability resides within the task description parameter functionality of the EPESI business management software, which is commonly used for project management and task tracking in enterprise environments. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with access to the task management module to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected task description is viewed by other users. This represents a significant security risk as it enables attackers to compromise the entire application environment through a single vulnerable input field.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the task description handling code. When users enter task descriptions containing malicious script code, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript commands. The vulnerability specifically affects the Tasks Description parameter, which is typically used to document task details, requirements, and notes. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability maps directly to Cross-Site Scripting flaws that occur when untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users without proper sanitization. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to perform sophisticated attacks against the EPESI application and its users. An attacker could craft malicious task descriptions that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject additional malicious code that could escalate privileges within the application. The persistence of stored XSS makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous because the malicious code remains active even after the initial injection, continuously affecting all users who view the compromised task descriptions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and can be used to establish persistent access to the application environment. The attack surface is amplified in enterprise settings where multiple users regularly interact with task management features, making this vulnerability a prime target for adversaries seeking to compromise business-critical systems.
Organizations using EPESI 1.8.2 revision 20170830 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied content in task descriptions. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive HTML sanitization libraries that strip or escape dangerous script tags and attributes from user inputs before storing them in the database. Security patches should be applied immediately, as EPESI has released updated versions that address this vulnerability through proper input validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while user access controls should be enforced to limit who can create or modify task descriptions. Additionally, regular security awareness training should be conducted to educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious task descriptions or links within the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies and proper input validation across all application components, particularly those handling user-generated content that will be displayed to other users.