CVE-2017-7621 in eMLi
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in core-eMLi in AuroMeera Technometrix Pvt. Ltd. eMLi V1.0 allows an Attacker to send malicious code, generally in the form of a browser-side script, to a different end user via the page parameter to code/student_portal/home.php. The affected versions are eMLi School Management 1.0, eMLi College Campus Management 1.0, and eMLi University Management 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2020
The CVE-2017-7621 vulnerability represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the core-eMLi component of AuroMeera Technometrix Pvt. Ltd.'s eMLi suite of school management applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the student portal functionality where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The flaw exists in the page parameter handling within the code/student_portal/home.php endpoint, making it susceptible to malicious code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which classifies cross site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic content. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and sends it through the page parameter, which is then processed by the vulnerable application without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the affected school management systems. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted areas of the student portal, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The affected versions including eMLi School Management 1.0, eMLi College Campus Management 1.0, and eMLi University Management 1.0 represent a significant attack surface across educational institutions that rely on these management platforms for student data handling and administrative functions.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious payloads. The attack chain typically involves initial reconnaissance of the application, crafting of malicious payloads targeting the specific parameter injection point, and delivery through phishing or direct exploitation. Organizations using these applications face risks of unauthorized access to sensitive student information, potential data breaches, and compromise of educational institution data integrity. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical need for proper output encoding and content security policies.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for all user-supplied parameters. The application should employ context-appropriate escaping for HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts, along with implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts, while user education regarding phishing and suspicious link handling remains essential for comprehensive defense. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper security testing throughout the software development life cycle to prevent such critical flaws from reaching production environments.