CVE-2017-20140 in Movie Portal Script
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2022
A vulnerability was found in Itech Movie Portal Script 7.36. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /movie.php. The manipulation of the argument f with the input leads to basic cross site scripting (Reflected). The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20140 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Itech Movie Portal Script version 7.36, specifically affecting the /movie.php file. This weakness falls under the category of reflected cross site scripting as defined by CWE-79, where malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the argument f which serves as a critical entry point for attacker-controlled data injection. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code that executes in the context of victims' browsers when they access the compromised page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a reflected XSS attack vector where an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script payload in the f parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users. When victims click on the crafted link, the script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be launched remotely through social engineering or by embedding malicious links in compromised websites or email communications. The fact that this exploit has been publicly disclosed increases the risk profile significantly, as it removes the element of exploit novelty that might otherwise provide some protection.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-20140 extends beyond simple script execution, as reflected XSS vulnerabilities can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases. Attackers can use this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation, steal sensitive user information, or redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the movie portal script, potentially compromising user data and the overall security posture of systems running this software. Organizations using this script are at risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential compromise of user accounts. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server, making detection more challenging for traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in URL query strings, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. The software should be updated to a patched version that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released security updates to resolve the issue. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation in the /movie.php file to reject or encode malicious input before processing would prevent exploitation. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense in depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application, as reflected XSS issues commonly occur in web applications that process user input without adequate sanitization.