CVE-2017-16907 in Horde Groupware
Summary
by MITRE
In Horde Groupware 5.2.19, there is XSS via the Color field in a Create Task List action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-16907 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Horde Groupware version 5.2.19 that specifically targets the Color field during task list creation operations. This issue falls under the category of input validation weaknesses and demonstrates how seemingly benign user interface elements can become attack vectors when proper sanitization measures are absent. The vulnerability exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied data within the task management functionality, where the Color field parameter fails to adequately sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code or html markup that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected task list.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to create a task list with a specially crafted color value that contains malicious script code. When other users navigate to the task list or view the color field, their browsers execute the injected code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected cross-site scripting issue under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious content that gets executed in the victim's browser context, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-16907 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the Horde Groupware environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive organizational data, or establish persistent access through session manipulation. The vulnerability affects the core collaborative functionality of the application, potentially compromising the integrity of task management workflows and user data. In enterprise settings where Horde Groupware is used for project management and team collaboration, this flaw could lead to significant information disclosure and operational disruption.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the application's data handling processes. The recommended approach involves validating and escaping all user-supplied input, particularly in fields that are rendered directly in web interfaces. Organizations should implement content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution and ensure that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which covers data from information repositories, suggesting that proper access controls and data validation should prevent unauthorized manipulation of stored data through injection attacks. Patch management procedures should be implemented immediately to upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, as the flaw affects the fundamental security posture of the collaborative platform.