CVE-2017-9624 in epesi
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Telaxus/EPESI 1.8.2 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted currency decimal-sign data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9624 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Telaxus/EPESI version 1.8.2 and earlier systems. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of currency decimal-sign data, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web pages. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted currency decimal-sign parameters, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting in software applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the currency handling module of the EPESI application. When users enter currency data with decimal signs, the system fails to properly escape or encode these characters before displaying them in web interfaces. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious decimal-sign inputs that contain embedded script tags or other HTML elements. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because currency data is frequently entered and displayed within business applications, making it a common attack vector that could affect multiple users simultaneously. This flaw directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and command-line interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is broad since currency data entry is a fundamental function in business applications, and the vulnerability affects all versions prior to the patched release. Organizations using EPESI systems could experience unauthorized data access, financial information theft, or complete application compromise if this vulnerability remains unaddressed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9624 should include immediate application of the vendor-provided security patch or upgrade to version 1.8.3 or later. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the currency handling module will prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and implementing content security policies to add defense-in-depth measures. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper data sanitization in financial applications where user input directly affects system security and data integrity.