CVE-2017-18217 in InvoicePlane
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in InvoicePlane before 1.5.5. It was observed that the Email address and Web address parameters are vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting, related to application/modules/clients/views/view.php, application/modules/invoices/views/view.php, and application/modules/quotes/views/view.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18217 represents a cross site scripting flaw affecting InvoicePlane versions prior to 1.5.5. This security weakness manifests in the application's handling of user-supplied data within specific view templates, creating opportunities for malicious code execution in the context of victim browsers. The affected files include client view templates, invoice view templates, and quote view templates, indicating a widespread impact across core application modules. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided email addresses and web addresses before rendering them in web interfaces.
This XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which classifies cross site scripting as a critical web application security weakness. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The affected templates process user input without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to craft payloads that execute in the browser context of legitimate users who view affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core application functionality where users regularly enter contact information and web references, making it a persistent attack vector throughout normal application usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to escalate privileges and compromise user sessions within the InvoicePlane application. Attackers could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal authentication cookies, or manipulate application data through crafted input in email and web address fields. The vulnerability affects the application's core modules, meaning that any user with access to client management, invoice creation, or quote generation functionality could be exposed to this attack vector. Given that these are fundamental business functions, the potential for widespread exploitation exists across different user roles within the application environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18217 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to InvoicePlane version 1.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities in the affected template files. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied content, and conducting regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of all user input fields and template rendering processes to ensure that no other XSS vectors remain unaddressed. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper sanitization of user data in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the use of malicious inputs to exploit web application vulnerabilities.