CVE-2017-7389 in openeclass
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) were discovered in 'openeclass Release_3.5.4'. The vulnerabilities exist due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (meeting_id, user) passed to the 'openeclass-master/modules/tc/webconf/webconf.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 • 11/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7389 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the openeclass learning management system version 3.5.4. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability specifically affects the webconf.php module located at openeclass-master/modules/tc/webconf/webconf.php, where parameters meeting_id and user are directly incorporated into the application's output without appropriate security filtering. This oversight creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject malicious code into the web application's response.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw that occurs when untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The flaw manifests when user-supplied parameters are passed directly to the application's response without sanitization, creating a persistent vector for attackers to execute malicious scripts. The affected parameters meeting_id and user represent common input vectors that could be manipulated through HTTP requests to inject HTML content that gets executed in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface the website, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and security of the learning management system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary HTML and script code within the context of the vulnerable website, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information, session cookies, or administrative functions. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that openeclass is a widely used educational platform where users may include administrators, instructors, and students with varying levels of system access. This vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, manipulate course content, or conduct more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or man-in-the-middle operations. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that successful exploitation can affect multiple users over time, making this a particularly dangerous flaw in a collaborative educational environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7389 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing, particularly the meeting_id and user parameters in the webconf.php module. Implementing strict input validation that rejects or encodes potentially malicious content, combined with proper output encoding for HTML contexts, will prevent the execution of injected scripts. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Credential Access and T1566 - Phishing demonstrates the potential for attackers to use this flaw as part of broader attack campaigns targeting educational institutions. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the system. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of openeclass or implementing proper web application firewall rules specifically targeting XSS patterns will provide comprehensive protection against this and related vulnerabilities.