CVE-2017-17569 in Posty Readymade Classifieds
Summary
by MITRE
Scubez Posty Readymade Classifieds has XSS via the admin/user_activate_submit.php ID parameter.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17569 affects the Scubez Posty Readymade Classifieds platform, specifically targeting the admin/user_activate_submit.php endpoint through improper input validation mechanisms. This issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized actions within the context of the affected application. The vulnerability manifests when the ID parameter in the user_activate_submit.php file fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into the application's output.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's backend processing logic. When administrators or users interact with the activation submission functionality, the system accepts the ID parameter without adequate sanitization measures, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious script code. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper validation or sanitization of user-provided data. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of input processing and output rendering, where user-controllable data flows directly into the application's response without proper context-aware encoding or filtering mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, or manipulate administrative functions within the classifieds platform. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that would execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers, particularly targeting administrators who might process activation requests. This scenario creates a significant risk for privilege escalation attacks and data compromise, as the injected scripts could access cookies, localStorage, or make authenticated requests on behalf of users. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves using malicious scripts to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions within web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's processing pipeline. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding or context-appropriate escaping mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation with strict type checking and length restrictions for the ID parameter would prevent malicious payloads from being processed. The application should also employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar input validation weaknesses. Organizations using this platform should ensure immediate patching of the identified vulnerability and implement proper access controls to limit exposure while mitigating potential exploitation attempts.