CVE-2017-14740 in GeniXCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in GeniXCMS 1.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Menu ID when adding a menu.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2020
The CVE-2017-14740 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in GeniXCMS version 1.1.0, a content management system that has been widely deployed for web application development. This vulnerability specifically affects the menu management functionality of the platform, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this CMS for their digital infrastructure. The flaw exists within the input validation mechanisms that process menu identifiers during the creation of new menu entries, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness through authenticated user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the Menu ID parameter. When authenticated users attempt to add new menus to the system, the application fails to properly validate or escape the Menu ID field, permitting attackers to inject malicious script code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the application does not implement proper output encoding or input validation controls that would prevent the execution of unauthorized JavaScript code. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack vector since the malicious scripts are stored within the application's database and executed whenever affected pages are accessed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations utilizing GeniXCMS 1.1.0, as it allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the browsers of other users who view affected menu items. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could potentially perform actions on behalf of victims, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must first obtain valid user credentials, but this requirement does not significantly diminish the threat level since many organizations face challenges with credential security and may have users with elevated privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent untrusted data from being executed as code.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the CMS codebase. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, while also implementing additional protective measures such as Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all input fields within the application to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement proper sanitization routines. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code within user browsers. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education regarding the importance of credential protection and suspicious link identification remains crucial for overall security posture.