CVE-2017-5960 in Eye
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Phalcon Eye through 0.4.1. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data in multiple HTTP GET parameters passed to the "phalconeye-master/public/external/pydio/plugins/editor.webodf/frame.php" URL. An attacker could execute arbitrary HTML and script code in a browser in the context of the vulnerable website.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5960 affects Phalcon Eye versions through 0.4.1 and represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security of web applications. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of HTTP GET parameters, specifically within the external pydio plugin component. The vulnerable endpoint at phalconeye-master/public/external/pydio/plugins/editor.webodf/frame.php fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject malicious content into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping. The flaw manifests when the application processes HTTP GET parameters without adequate sanitization, enabling attackers to pass malicious payloads through URL parameters that are then rendered in the browser context. This particular vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected off the web server and executed in the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input directly in their output.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate web page content, or redirect users to malicious websites. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can inject HTML and script code that executes in the context of the vulnerable website, potentially allowing for complete compromise of user sessions and data theft. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication since it relies on standard URL parameter manipulation, making it accessible to attackers with basic web security knowledge.
Security practitioners should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent this class of vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict parameter validation for all HTTP GET parameters, applying proper HTML escaping to all user-supplied content before rendering, and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls to prevent unauthorized code execution in web environments.