CVE-2017-6487 in epesi
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in EPESI 1.8.1.1. The vulnerabilities exist due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (state, element, id, tab, cid) passed to the "EPESI-master/modules/Utils/RecordBrowser/favorites.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 • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6487 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within EPESI version 1.8.1.1 that exposes the application to malicious code execution through user input manipulation. This vulnerability specifically affects the RecordBrowser favorites module, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's response. The affected parameters include state, element, id, tab, and cid which are processed through the favorites.php endpoint without proper sanitization measures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary cause of XSS attacks, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user-supplied data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing HTML or JavaScript code and submits it through the vulnerable parameters. The application fails to properly filter or escape these inputs before rendering them in the web page context, allowing the malicious code to execute within the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of output encoding practices that should be implemented at every point where user data enters the application's HTML rendering pipeline, particularly within the EPESI application's module handling architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential data breaches and privilege escalation within the application environment. When an attacker successfully exploits this XSS flaw, they can establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially gaining access to sensitive business data, user credentials, or administrative functions within the EPESI system. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the RecordBrowser favorites functionality, making it a widespread threat that could compromise the entire application's security posture. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics using malicious content delivery, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreters for execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6487 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all user-supplied parameters. Organizations should implement proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content rendered in web pages, particularly within the affected module paths. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all input parameters before processing them through the favorites.php endpoint and applying context-specific encoding based on the output context. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits of web application code should include thorough review of all input handling mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of consistent security practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle.