CVE-2017-9332 in PivotX
Summary
by MITRE
The smarty_self function in modules/module_smarty.php in PivotX 2.3.11 mishandles the URI, allowing XSS via vectors involving quotes in the self Smarty tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9332 resides within the smarty_self function located in modules/module_smarty.php of PivotX version 2.3.11. This issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits improper handling of URI parameters within the Smarty template engine integration. The flaw specifically manifests when processing the self Smarty tag, where user-controllable input containing quotes is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the web application's output. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to the CWE database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URI containing quotes within the self Smarty tag parameter. When the smarty_self function processes this input, it fails to properly escape or filter the special characters, allowing malicious script code to be injected into the rendered HTML output. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the template processing capabilities of Smarty, which is commonly used for dynamic content generation in web applications. The presence of quotes in the URI parameter creates a parsing issue that bypasses standard input validation mechanisms, enabling attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9332 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and further exploitation within the victim's browser context. An attacker could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users through the compromised PivotX application. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web browser-based attacks, social engineering, or by manipulating existing user sessions. The attack surface is particularly broad since the self Smarty tag is commonly used in template processing, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable across multiple parts of the application's functionality.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-9332 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the smarty_self function. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input through proper escaping techniques before rendering any content, particularly when dealing with URI parameters containing special characters. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, upgrading to a patched version of PivotX 2.3.11 or migrating to a more recent stable release is essential since this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent versions. The remediation strategy should also include comprehensive code reviews focusing on template processing functions and input handling routines to prevent similar issues in other parts of the application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web shell execution and browser-based attack vectors that leverage template engine weaknesses.