CVE-2017-7363 in Pixie
Summary
by MITRE
Pixie 1.0.4 allows an admin/index.php s=publish&m=module&x= XSS attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7363 affects Pixie version 1.0.4, a content management system that suffers from a cross-site scripting flaw in its administrative interface. This vulnerability exists within the admin/index.php script where the parameter s=publish&m=module&x= is processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding. The flaw allows an authenticated administrator to be tricked into executing malicious scripts through crafted payloads in the x parameter, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the system's administrative functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without appropriate validation or encoding. The vulnerability occurs in the context of a web application's administrative interface, specifically when processing module-related parameters. The x parameter in the URL structure admin/index.php?s=publish&m=module&x= receives user input that is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in the browser context. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and executed within the context of the administrator's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides an attacker with a potential path to escalate privileges and compromise the entire system. Since the vulnerability requires administrative privileges to exploit, it represents a critical security gap in the system's defense-in-depth strategy. Once exploited, the attacker could gain full administrative control over the Pixie installation, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized modifications, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack vector involves the administrator visiting a malicious page that triggers the XSS payload, making it particularly insidious as it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The system should enforce strict sanitization of all parameters received through the URL, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including the application's parameter parsing logic and the user interface rendering components. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Pixie that addresses the vulnerability through proper parameter handling and output encoding practices. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in other components of their web infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and the principle of least privilege in web application development, where administrative functions require the most rigorous security controls.