CVE-2017-7387 in HelpMeWatchWho
Summary
by MITRE
TheFirstQuestion/HelpMeWatchWho before 2017-03-28 is vulnerable to a reflected XSS in HelpMeWatchWho-master/unaired.php (episodeID parameter).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7387 affects the HelpMeWatchWho web application version prior to 2017-03-28, specifically targeting the unaired.php script within the HelpMeWatchWho-master directory structure. This represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests through the episodeID parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or output encoding, creating an environment where malicious code can be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the application's web interface. When the episodeID parameter is passed to the unaired.php script, the application fails to sanitize or encode the input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This allows an attacker to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that are then reflected back to users who click on the crafted links. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications include untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or encoding, making it a prime target for malicious exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a URL that appears legitimate to users while simultaneously executing malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the attack payload is not stored on the server but rather injected through user interaction with maliciously crafted links, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that do not properly validate or sanitize user input.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves social engineering techniques where an attacker sends phishing emails or posts malicious links in forums or social media platforms. When a victim clicks on the crafted link containing the XSS payload, their browser executes the malicious script in the context of the vulnerable web application, potentially compromising their session and allowing for further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics that manipulate users into executing malicious code. The lack of proper input validation in the unaired.php script creates an attack surface that directly enables these malicious activities without requiring extensive privileges or knowledge of the underlying system architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level issues and broader security practices within the application. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters including the episodeID parameter in the unaired.php script. This requires sanitizing input data before processing and ensuring that any dynamic content is properly escaped or encoded to prevent script execution. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and establish proper input validation frameworks that can be applied across all user-facing parameters. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and ensure that proper security controls are maintained throughout the application lifecycle.