CVE-2017-9331 in epesi
Summary
by MITRE
The Agenda component in Telaxus EPESI 1.8.2 and earlier has a Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in modules/Utils/RecordBrowser/RecordBrowserCommon_0.php, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted meeting description parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9331 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Telaxus EPESI 1.8.2 and earlier versions of the Agenda component. This security weakness resides in the modules/Utils/RecordBrowser/RecordBrowserCommon_0.php file where user input related to meeting descriptions is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the application's database. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code that persists in the system, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious content can affect all users who interact with the affected functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's data handling pipeline. When users create or modify meeting records, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters in the description field, allowing attackers to embed malicious JavaScript payloads. These payloads are then stored in the database and executed whenever other users view the meeting records, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the RecordBrowserCommon_0.php module which serves as a common interface for managing various record types within the EPESI system, amplifying the potential impact across different organizational functions.
From an operational perspective, this stored XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using EPESI 1.8.2 or earlier versions. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or even escalate privileges within the application. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once the malicious payload is injected, it remains active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods. The vulnerability impacts business continuity by creating potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive meeting information, and possible compromise of the entire application environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Telaxus EPESI versions that address this vulnerability, typically those beyond 1.8.2 where proper input sanitization has been implemented. The recommended approach involves deploying comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-provided data before storage, implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and establishing robust content security policies. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, conducting regular security audits of the application's input handling mechanisms, and providing security training to administrators on identifying and mitigating XSS vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a typical attack vector categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1211 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where user trust and data integrity are paramount.