CVE-2017-18177 in Sitefinity
Summary
by MITRE
Progress Sitefinity 9.1 has XSS via the Last name, First name, and About fields on the New User Creation Page. This is fixed in 10.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
Progress Sitefinity version 9.1 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects the user creation page functionality. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input within the Last name, First name, and About fields during new user registration processes. The flaw allows authenticated users with sufficient privileges to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected user profiles. This represents a classic persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious code is stored on the server and executed when legitimate users access the compromised data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Sitefinity content management platform. When users enter data into the specified fields during user creation, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before storing it in the database and rendering it on subsequent pages. This allows attackers to embed javascript code or other malicious payloads that execute whenever the affected user profiles are displayed. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the user management interface components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive information, modify user permissions, or even escalate their privileges within the system. The attack requires only basic user creation privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with relatively low-level access. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire user management system and can compromise the broader application security posture.
Organizations using Progress Sitefinity 9.1 should immediately upgrade to version 10.1 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. The fix implemented in version 10.1 demonstrates proper secure coding practices by ensuring all user inputs are validated and encoded before being stored or rendered. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security assessments, and establishing proper input validation policies. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and follows attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and execution techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security training for administrators to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in the wild.