CVE-2017-6810 in MaNGOSWebV4
Summary
by MITRE
paintballrefjosh/MaNGOSWebV4 4.0.8 is vulnerable to a reflected XSS in inc/admin/template_files/admin.fplinks.php (linkid parameter).
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6810 affects the paintballrefjosh/MaNGOSWebV4 version 4.0.8 web application, specifically targeting the administrative interface component located at inc/admin/template_files/admin.fplinks.php. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being returned to the browser. The vulnerability is triggered through the linkid parameter which is processed within the administrative file management system, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the PHP application code. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads in the linkid parameter and persuades an administrator to click the link, the script is reflected back through the web application's response and executed in the administrator's browser. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more precisely aligns with CWE-74 as it involves reflected data being improperly handled. The attack vector operates through the standard HTTP GET request mechanism where the malicious payload is embedded in the URL parameters and directly reflected in the page response without adequate sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected web application. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the administrator's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized modifications to the web application's configuration and content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, meaning any successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the web application's backend systems. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting languages, and T1566 which covers spearphishing with a link, as the attack typically requires social engineering to convince administrators to click malicious links.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper HTML entity encoding before output. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. The application should also employ proper parameter validation and reject any input that contains potentially dangerous characters or sequences. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other components of the application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and the principle of least privilege in web application development, as the administrative interface should never trust user input without proper sanitization.