CVE-2017-7583 in ILIAS
Summary
by MITRE
ILIAS before 5.2.3 has XSS via SVG documents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7583 affects ILIAS versions prior to 5.2.3 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited through SVG document uploads. This issue falls under the category of insecure input handling and improper output encoding, which are fundamental security weaknesses that can lead to severe consequences in web applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes SVG files that contain malicious script code, allowing attackers to inject harmful payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of SVG file content within the ILIAS platform. When users upload SVG documents, the application fails to properly sanitize the XML structure and embedded JavaScript code that may be present in these files. SVG format supports embedded scripts and external references that can be executed when the document is rendered in a web browser, creating an avenue for attackers to embed malicious code within seemingly benign image files. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because SVG files are often treated as safe media content and may bypass traditional security filters that are designed to detect malicious file types.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' sessions, potentially gaining access to sensitive information, modifying user data, or performing actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the entire ILIAS platform's document management system and could compromise multiple user accounts, especially in environments where users frequently upload and share documents. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in educational and enterprise environments where ILIAS is commonly used for managing learning content and collaborative workspaces.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to ILIAS version 5.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent SVG uploads or implement comprehensive sanitization of SVG content before processing. The mitigation strategy should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follow the CWE-79 remediation guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the ILIAS platform or related systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization for all file types and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.