CVE-2017-20122 in Site Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2022
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Bitrix Site Manager 12.06.2015. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Contact Form. The manipulation of the argument text with the input leads to basic cross site scripting. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
This vulnerability resides within Bitrix Site Manager version 12.06.2015, specifically targeting the Contact Form component functionality. The issue manifests as a cross site scripting vulnerability that occurs when the text argument parameter is manipulated with specific input sequences. This represents a classic client-side vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability has been classified as problematic by security researchers and has been publicly disclosed, making it potentially accessible to threat actors who may leverage it for various malicious activities.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the contact form processing mechanism. When users submit data through the contact form, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the text input before rendering it back to the browser. This omission creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the text field parameter processing, where user-supplied content is directly incorporated into the page output without proper security measures. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution within the context of affected user sessions. An attacker can craft malicious input that, when processed by the contact form, will execute arbitrary javascript in the browsers of other users who view the affected page. This could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, or the execution of additional malicious payloads. The remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network connectivity to launch attacks, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. The public disclosure of this exploit increases the likelihood of real-world exploitation and makes it a target for automated attack tools.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Bitrix Site Manager application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing, particularly text fields in contact forms, and ensuring that any rendered output properly escapes special characters to prevent script execution. Organizations should implement content security policies to further limit the potential impact of successful XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices for preventing cross site scripting attacks and should be consistent with recommendations found in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against such attacks.