CVE-2017-18286 in nZEDb
Summary
by MITRE
nZEDb v0.7.3.3 has XSS in the 404 error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-18286 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in nZEDb version 0.7.3.3, specifically affecting the application's 404 error page implementation. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the error handling component of the software. The vulnerability manifests when the application encounters a non-existent resource and displays a custom 404 error page that fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input parameters. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs containing script tags or other malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they encounter the error page. The flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a classic example of insufficient output escaping in dynamic web content generation. This vulnerability type falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203, specifically targeting web application security through client-side code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture to properly sanitize all user-controllable data before rendering it in the browser context. When nZEDb processes a request for a non-existent resource, it constructs the 404 error page using data extracted from the original request without applying appropriate HTML encoding or sanitization. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because 404 error pages are often visited by users who may not be actively searching for malicious content, making the attack surface more expansive than typical XSS scenarios. The flaw exists in the application's error handling logic rather than core functionality, which means it can be exploited even when legitimate application features are functioning normally.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session manipulation, as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the network environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent access through browser-based attacks, especially if the target users are administrators or privileged individuals. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in the application's development lifecycle, suggesting that input validation and output sanitization practices may be inadequate throughout the codebase. Organizations using nZEDb v0.7.3.3 are at risk of having their users' browser sessions compromised, which could lead to unauthorized access to the application's functionality, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The attack vector is relatively simple to execute, requiring only the construction of a malicious URL that triggers the vulnerable error page.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18286 should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability in the error handling component. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in error pages and dynamic content generation areas. The recommended approach involves applying HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content rendered in web pages, including error messages and URL parameters. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 standards for web application security, ensuring that all user-controllable inputs are properly validated and sanitized before being processed or displayed in the browser context.