CVE-2017-5213 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Open-Xchange GmbH OX App Suite 7.8.3 and earlier is affected by: Cross Site Scripting (XSS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5213 affects Open-Xchange GmbH's OX App Suite version 7.8.3 and earlier, representing a critical cross site scripting flaw that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web applications. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of the email and collaboration platform, which is widely used by enterprises for business communication and productivity services. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's handling of user input within web forms and dynamic content generation processes, creating an exploitable entry point for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OX App Suite application. When users interact with the web interface through various input fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of the platform, including email composition, calendar events, and contact management features where user input is frequently processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and sensitive organizational data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, modify user permissions, access confidential emails and documents, or even establish persistent backdoors within the organization's communication infrastructure. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects multiple application modules that process user input, making it challenging for administrators to fully mitigate the risk through simple configuration changes. Organizations using this platform face potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and significant reputational damage if exploited successfully.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5213 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Open-Xchange GmbH, as this vulnerability has been classified under CWE-79 with specific references to CWE-80 and CWE-81 which detail the various forms of cross site scripting attacks. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and establish strict output encoding practices throughout the application. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications, following ATT&CK framework techniques related to web application exploitation and credential access. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar weaknesses in enterprise collaboration platforms.