CVE-2017-6561 in Agora-Project
Summary
by MITRE
XSS in Agora-Project 3.2.2 exists with an index.php?ctrl=object&action=[XSS] attack.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6561 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Agora-Project version 3.2.2 web application. This security weakness manifests through the index.php script when processing parameters related to object control and action execution, specifically allowing malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling system, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the web interface through crafted URL parameters.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input values passed through the ctrl and action parameters in the URL. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and injects it into these parameters, the application processes the input without adequate sanitization before rendering it in the web response. This allows the injected script to execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically affects the object control functionality, suggesting that the application's object management system lacks proper input validation for user interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by authenticated users, would execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify application behavior. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Agora-Project's object management system, potentially allowing unauthorized data manipulation or access to sensitive information. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared resources, as it can facilitate unauthorized access to project data and user credentials.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for output rendering, and utilizing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and input validation routines that reject suspicious character sequences. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application exploitation. Organizations should implement regular security testing, including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, to identify similar input validation weaknesses in web applications. The remediation process should involve updating the application code to properly escape all dynamic content and implementing proper parameter validation frameworks to prevent similar issues in future releases.