CVE-2017-6536 in webpagetest
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issues were discovered in webpagetest 3.0. The vulnerabilities exist due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (url, pssid) passed to the webpagetest-master/www/weblite.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 • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6536 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in webpagetest version 3.0, specifically within the webpagetest-master/www/weblite.php component. This issue falls under the broader category of insecure input handling that has been systematically catalogued by the Common Weakness Enumeration as CWE-79, which describes the weakness of failing to sanitize input data before incorporating it into web pages. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied parameters, particularly the url and pssid variables, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful script code that executes in the context of legitimate users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP parameters that are directly passed to the vulnerable script without adequate sanitization measures. When users submit URLs or session identifiers through the webpagetest interface, the application processes these inputs without implementing proper output encoding or input validation mechanisms. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the web application interface. The flaw exists because the application does not employ proper contextual output encoding or input validation techniques that would prevent script execution in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6536 extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a significant threat to web application security and user data integrity. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent access to user sessions, execute malicious commands on behalf of authenticated users, and compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the web application. The vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category, which covers execution of code through various attack vectors including web-based exploitation. Organizations using vulnerable versions of webpagetest face risks of data exfiltration, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure through compromised user browsers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the webpagetest application to the latest secure version that addresses the XSS flaws. System administrators must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being processed or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this and similar vulnerabilities, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project which consistently ranks XSS as one of the most prevalent web application security risks.