CVE-2017-6481 in phpipam
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in phpipam 1.2. The vulnerabilities exist due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data passed to several pages (instructions in app/admin/instructions/preview.php; subnetId in app/admin/powerDNS/refresh-ptr-records.php). 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 • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6481 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within phpipam version 1.2, a widely used IP address management solution. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing and rendering within web pages. The flaw specifically affects multiple application components where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without appropriate security measures. The affected pages include app/admin/instructions/preview.php and app/admin/powerDNS/refresh-ptr-records.php, both of which handle parameters containing subnetId and instruction data respectively. These locations represent prime targets for exploitation as they process user-provided information that flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious script code through carefully crafted input parameters. When the vulnerable application processes user-supplied data containing HTML tags or JavaScript code, it renders this content directly within the browser context of legitimate users. This creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious scripts can execute in the victim's browser session with the privileges of the authenticated user. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects administrative functions within phpipam, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive network management information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting with the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it compromises the integrity of the entire IP management system. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify administrative configurations within the phpipam environment. Given that phpipam serves as a critical network infrastructure management tool, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on it for IP address tracking, subnet management, and DNS configuration. The exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is limited or where users may inadvertently trigger malicious code execution through routine administrative tasks. Organizations using this version of phpipam face potential data breaches, unauthorized network modifications, and complete compromise of their IP address management infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6481 should prioritize immediate patching of the phpipam application to version 1.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization across all user-facing application components, particularly those handling administrative parameters. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution in the browser context. Regular security audits of web application code should include thorough input validation testing and automated scanning for similar XSS vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while user education regarding suspicious link clicks and unusual administrative behavior should be part of overall security awareness programs. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns targeting known XSS attack vectors.