CVE-2017-3102 in Connect
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Connect versions 9.6.1 and earlier have a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to a reflected cross-site scripting attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
Adobe Connect is a web-based collaboration platform that enables users to create and manage online meetings, training sessions, and collaborative workspaces. The platform serves as a centralized hub for enterprise communication and knowledge sharing, making it a critical component in organizational digital infrastructure. This vulnerability affects versions 9.6.1 and earlier, which were widely deployed across enterprises and educational institutions for virtual meetings and training programs. The software's web interface handles user input through URL parameters and form fields, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions and access sensitive organizational data.
The reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Adobe Connect's input validation mechanisms within the web application's request handling process. When users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs containing script code in parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS because the malicious script is reflected off the web server and delivered to the victim's browser, rather than being stored on the server. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when web applications fail to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate application behavior and access user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, and access sensitive data within the Adobe Connect environment. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by an authenticated user, would execute scripts to capture session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or extract confidential meeting information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Adobe Connect is used for sensitive business meetings, training sessions, and collaborative projects. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to proprietary information, disruption of business operations, and potential data breaches that compromise organizational security. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Connect face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability affects the core functionality of the platform and can be exploited without requiring privileged access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of Adobe Connect to versions 9.6.2 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes to prevent reflected cross-site scripting attacks. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests, enforce strict input validation on all user-supplied data, and deploy output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their Adobe Connect deployments and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web-based attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as content security policies, regular security training for users, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.