CVE-2017-20159 in Keynote
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2022
A vulnerability was found in rf Keynote up to 0.x. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file lib/keynote/rumble.rb. The manipulation of the argument value leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.0.0 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 05be4356b0a6ca7de48da926a9b997beb5ffeb4a. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-217142 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20159 represents a cross site scripting flaw within the rf Keynote library version 0.x, specifically affecting the lib/keynote/rumble.rb file. This security weakness falls under the category of input validation failures and has been classified with a problematic rating due to its potential for remote exploitation. The vulnerability manifests when improper handling of argument values occurs within the affected component, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web applications that utilize this library. The issue resides in the library's processing of user-supplied data without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms, making it susceptible to script injection attacks that could compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input parameters within the rumble.rb file, which processes keynote-related functionality. When the library receives arguments that contain malicious script content, the lack of proper input filtering allows these scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross site scripting weaknesses where untrusted data is improperly handled and executed within web applications. The remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the target system, simply by crafting malicious inputs that are processed by the vulnerable library. The attack surface extends to any application or service that integrates the rf Keynote library, particularly those handling user-generated content or external data inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive user information, or redirect users to malicious websites. In enterprise environments where keynote presentation systems are utilized for business communications, this vulnerability could facilitate data breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain strict network segmentation or monitoring controls. Organizations utilizing this library in production environments face significant risk of compromise, especially if they do not implement proper input validation or application-level security controls to mitigate the attack surface.
The recommended remediation strategy involves upgrading to version 1.0.0 of the rf Keynote library, which incorporates the patch identified by the commit hash 05be4356b0a6ca7de48da926a9b997beb5ffeb4a. This upgrade addresses the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms within the rumble.rb file. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation at multiple layers, and comprehensive security testing of integrated components. The fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213, which involves data from information repositories, as proper input validation prevents malicious data from being processed and executed within the application environment. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of the upgraded library in staging environments before deployment to ensure compatibility and verify that the patch effectively resolves the cross site scripting vulnerability without introducing new issues or breaking existing functionality.