CVE-2017-15273 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Mahara 15.04 before 15.04.15, 16.04 before 16.04.9, 16.10 before 16.10.6, and 17.04 before 17.04.4 are vulnerable to a user submitting a potential dangerous payload, e.g., XSS code, to be saved as titles in internal artefacts.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15273 affects the Mahara learning management system across multiple versions, specifically targeting the handling of user-submitted data in internal artefact titles. This issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious code into system elements that are subsequently rendered to other users. The flaw exists in the input validation and output encoding mechanisms within Mahara's artefact management subsystem, where user-provided content intended for title fields lacks proper sanitization before being stored and displayed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user input within the artefact creation and editing processes. When users create or modify internal artefacts, the system accepts title values without adequate filtering or encoding of potentially dangerous characters and script sequences. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that could include javascript code, html tags, or other malicious content designed to execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the internal artefact system where users may have legitimate access to create content, making it easier to bypass traditional perimeter security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary javascript code in the browsers of other users who view the affected artefacts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector requires authentication to the system, which means that unauthorized access to legitimate user accounts would be necessary to fully exploit this vulnerability. However, once an attacker gains access to a valid account, they can create artefacts with malicious content that will be executed whenever other users view these artefacts, creating a persistent threat vector that could affect multiple system users.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a common weakness in input validation and output encoding practices. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations using affected Mahara versions should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the affected versions span multiple release cycles and indicate a prolonged period during which the vulnerability remained unaddressed. The remediation process should include verifying that all user input is properly sanitized and that output encoding is applied consistently to prevent malicious code execution in browser contexts.
Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious artefact creation patterns and establish automated scanning for potentially malicious content within user-generated titles. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust input validation mechanisms across all user-facing application components, particularly those that handle user-generated content in web applications.