CVE-2017-7361 in Pixie
Summary
by MITRE
Pixie 1.0.4 allows an admin/index.php s=publish&m=static&x= XSS attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7361 affects Pixie version 1.0.4, a content management system that suffers from a cross-site scripting flaw in its administrative interface. This issue manifests specifically within the admin/index.php endpoint when processing parameters related to publishing static content, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code into the application's administrative environment. The vulnerability resides in the application's insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, which fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the s=publish&m=static&x= parameter chain within the administrative URL structure, allowing an attacker with administrative privileges or the ability to craft malicious requests to inject malicious javascript payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack vector since the malicious code can be persisted within the application's database or configuration files. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further privilege escalation within the administrative environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft, as it provides attackers with a foothold within the administrative interface of the CMS. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to modify or delete content, change user permissions, or even install backdoors within the application. The presence of such a flaw in the administrative interface creates a critical security risk, as it directly compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1548.002 for abuse of administrative privileges, representing a significant threat to the organization's digital infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Pixie application to version 1.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies, regular security auditing of web applications, and restricting administrative access to trusted personnel only. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project, which emphasizes the need for comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs to prevent XSS attacks.