CVE-2017-15571 in Redmine
Summary
by MITRE
In Redmine before 3.2.8, 3.3.x before 3.3.5, and 3.4.x before 3.4.3, XSS exists in app/views/issues/_list.html.erb via crafted column data.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15571 represents a cross-site scripting weakness affecting multiple versions of the Redmine project management platform. This issue resides within the issue listing view template where user-supplied column data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. The vulnerability affects Redmine versions prior to 3.2.8, 3.3.5, and 3.4.3 respectively, indicating a widespread impact across the software's release history. The flaw specifically manifests in the app/views/issues/_list.html.erb template file, which processes and displays issue data in tabular format.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within Redmine's view rendering system. When administrators or users configure custom issue columns with malicious payloads, these crafted data elements are directly embedded into the HTML output without proper sanitization. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, particularly when they view issue lists containing the malicious column data. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15571 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. An attacker who can influence column data in Redmine's issue tracking system could execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browsers of other users who view the affected issue lists. This could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or the execution of malicious actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector requires that an attacker have the ability to modify column configurations or insert malicious data into columns that are subsequently displayed in issue listings, which may be possible in environments where multiple users have administrative privileges or where column data is imported from external sources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious javascript code through web interface manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to versions 3.2.8, 3.3.5, or 3.4.3 where the XSS protection has been implemented. Organizations should also implement strict input validation policies for column configurations and consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions to ensure that only trusted individuals can modify column layouts or import data that might contain malicious payloads. Regular security audits of web application inputs and outputs remain crucial for identifying similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Redmine platform or related systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper output encoding in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.