CVE-2017-7250 in Gazelle
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) was discovered in Gazelle before 2017-03-19. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (action) passed to the 'Gazelle-master/sections/tools/finances/bitcoin_balance.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 • 11/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7250 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Gazelle application framework prior to version 2017-03-19. This security weakness resides in the financial tools section of the application, specifically within the bitcoin_balance.php script located at Gazelle-master/sections/tools/finances/bitcoin_balance.php. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data passed through the action parameter. This oversight creates a persistent vector for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary HTML and script code within the browser context of legitimate users interacting with the vulnerable website.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in data validation practices where the application directly incorporates user-provided input into its output without adequate sanitization or encoding. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code and submits it through the action parameter, the application processes this data without proper filtering, allowing the malicious content to be rendered in the user's browser. This creates a persistent threat where any user who accesses the affected page could potentially be compromised, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the financial tools section. The flaw operates at the application layer and affects the client-side execution environment, making it a direct threat to user session integrity and data confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The financial nature of the affected component increases the potential damage significantly, as attackers could potentially manipulate or access sensitive financial data, monitor user activities, or even execute unauthorized transactions if the application's security model permits such actions. This vulnerability directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten project, specifically addressing the category of injection flaws that can lead to complete application compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that financial tools often contain sensitive user information and transaction data that could be exploited for financial gain or identity theft.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7250 must prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user-supplied input, particularly parameters passed to the action variable in the bitcoin_balance.php script. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, the application should employ proper HTML encoding when rendering user data in the browser context, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is rendered harmless. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular security audits and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other application components, while developers should follow secure coding practices that emphasize input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all scripts handling user input, particularly those within financial or administrative sections of web applications, to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the codebase.