CVE-2017-3103 in Connect
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Connect versions 9.6.1 and earlier have a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to a stored cross-site scripting attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
Adobe Connect is a web conferencing and collaboration platform that enables organizations to host virtual meetings, training sessions, and webinars. The platform allows users to create and share content including presentations, documents, and multimedia files while providing features for real-time communication through chat, audio, and video capabilities. This vulnerability affects versions 9.6.1 and earlier of the software, which are widely deployed in enterprise environments for virtual collaboration and training purposes.
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Adobe Connect's handling of user input within certain web application components. Specifically, when users submit content or data through the platform's interface, the application fails to properly sanitize and validate the input before storing it in the database. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code into the application's data storage system, which then gets executed whenever other users view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed against multiple users who access the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using Adobe Connect for collaborative work environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary javascript code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser. The vulnerability could be leveraged to escalate privileges within the application, access sensitive meeting data, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that Adobe Connect is commonly used for corporate training, internal meetings, and sensitive business communications, the potential for data exfiltration and unauthorized access is substantial. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the platform, as well as potentially compromising the broader network through lateral movement.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Connect version 9.6.2 or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can help mitigate the risk of XSS attacks. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their web applications and ensure that all third-party software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users can help identify potential phishing attempts that might precede XSS attacks, while monitoring for unusual data submissions or access patterns can aid in early detection of exploitation activities.