CVE-2017-7953 in EAM
Summary
by MITRE
INFOR EAM V11.0 Build 201410 has XSS via comment fields.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7953 affects INFOR EAM V11.0 Build 201410 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that specifically manifests through comment fields within the application. This security weakness allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into comment sections that are subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view these comments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's comment handling functionality, creating an environment where untrusted data can be processed without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted malicious code within comment fields that are then stored and displayed to other users. When victims access pages containing these malicious comments, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where inadequate input validation allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, which would allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data. Given that EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) systems typically handle critical business information including asset tracking, maintenance schedules, and operational data, the compromise of comment fields could facilitate broader system infiltration. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges or access restricted functionalities within the application.
Organizations utilizing INFOR EAM V11.0 Build 201410 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in comment fields. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all comment inputs to remove or encode potentially dangerous characters and tags before storage and display. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using proper encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding for output rendering can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious comment submissions, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the web application attack category, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through user interface elements.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for seemingly minor flaws to create significant security risks. The affected version of INFOR EAM represents a legacy system where security patches may not be readily available, making proper input sanitization and application-level protections essential. Organizations should prioritize updating to supported versions of the software while implementing defensive measures to protect against exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in their enterprise asset management systems.