CVE-2017-7203 in ZoneMinder
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) was discovered in ZoneMinder 1.30.2. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (postLoginQuery) passed to the "ZoneMinder-master/web/skins/classic/views/js/postlogin.js.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 • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7203 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in ZoneMinder version 1.30.2, a popular open-source video surveillance software solution. This vulnerability resides within the web interface's handling of user input, specifically in the postLoginQuery parameter that is processed through the javascript file located at ZoneMinder-master/web/skins/classic/views/js/postlogin.js.php. The flaw demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and output encoding that allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data within the authentication and login workflow of the ZoneMinder application. When a user submits login credentials or related parameters, the postLoginQuery variable is not properly filtered or escaped before being incorporated into dynamically generated javascript code. This creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed in the browser of any user who accesses the vulnerable page. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the post-login phase, meaning that successful exploitation would require an attacker to first obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the context of the victim's authenticated session. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, modify user permissions, access sensitive surveillance data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for input validation and output encoding. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to leverage the trust relationship between the user and the web application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where surveillance systems contain sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7203 should focus on immediate patching of the affected ZoneMinder version, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that properly sanitize all user-supplied data before it is processed or rendered in the application's output. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding techniques can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments of the surveillance infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in related components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive operational data within critical infrastructure environments.