CVE-2017-16792 in geminabox
Summary
by MITRE
Stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in "geminabox" (Gem in a Box) before 0.13.10 allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script via the "homepage" value of a ".gemspec" file, related to views/gem.erb and views/index.erb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2023
The CVE-2017-16792 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw in the geminabox application, a Ruby-based gem server that allows developers to host and serve ruby gems. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 0.13.10 and specifically targets the handling of gem metadata within the .gemspec file format. The flaw enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users who view the affected gem information, creating a persistent security risk that can compromise user sessions and data confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the gem homepage field of .gemspec files. When geminabox processes these files for display in the web interface, it fails to adequately escape or filter the homepage value before rendering it in the views/gem.erb and views/index.erb templates. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code that persists in the application's database and executes whenever the vulnerable page is accessed by other users. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS because the malicious payload is saved and stored within the application's data store rather than being reflected in a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, and potentially escalate privileges within the application context. The vulnerability affects any user who views gem information through the geminabox interface, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple developers access shared gem repositories. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, modify gem metadata, or redirect users to phishing sites, all while maintaining persistence through the stored nature of the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16792 involve immediate patching to version 0.13.10 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation for all user-supplied data within gem metadata fields, particularly the homepage and other descriptive fields. The implementation should follow secure coding practices that align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized modifications to gem metadata. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1212, Exploitation for Credential Access, as it enables attackers to harvest user session information and credentials through malicious script execution. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of gem repositories and implement automated scanning tools to identify potentially compromised gem packages within their dependency chains.