CVE-2017-17972 in Archon
Summary
by MITRE
packages/subjects/pub/subjects.php in Archon 3.21 rev-1 has XSS in the referer parameter in an index.php?subjecttypeid=xxx request, aka Open Bug Bounty ID OBB-466362.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17972 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Archon digital repository system version 3.21 rev-1. This security weakness specifically affects the subjects module where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability manifests when processing requests to the pub/subjects.php endpoint with a referer parameter, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited through standard web browser interactions without requiring privileged access or specialized tools.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Archon application's handling of HTTP referer headers. When a user navigates to a page with a subjecttypeid parameter and the referer header contains malicious script content, the system fails to properly escape or filter this input before including it in the generated HTML response. This creates an environment where an attacker can inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected page. The vulnerability is classified as a classic stored or reflected XSS depending on how the referer data is processed and persisted within the application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the integrity and confidentiality of digital repository systems that rely on Archon for managing and presenting scholarly content. Attackers could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject phishing content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise the entire repository system by enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or data manipulation. The Open Bug Bounty ID OBB-466362 indicates this vulnerability was publicly disclosed through community reporting mechanisms, highlighting its potential for widespread exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. Organizations using Archon 3.21 rev-1 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly HTTP headers like referer. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all input parameters and applying proper HTML escaping before rendering any user-controllable content in web responses. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide defense-in-depth protection against script execution. System administrators should also consider upgrading to newer versions of Archon where these vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input validation and secure coding practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when security controls are insufficiently implemented in content management systems.