CVE-2017-9808 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
OX Software GmbH OX App Suite 7.8.4 and earlier is affected by: Cross Site Scripting (XSS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9808 affects OX App Suite version 7.8.4 and earlier, representing a critical cross site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. This vulnerability resides within the OX App Suite platform developed by OX Software GmbH, which serves as a comprehensive collaboration and communication solution for enterprise environments. The XSS vulnerability specifically manifests in the application's handling of user input within web interfaces, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OX App Suite application. When users interact with the platform through web interfaces, particularly in areas where user-generated content is processed or displayed, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially compromise user sessions. The vulnerability typically occurs in contexts where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into dynamic web pages without adequate security measures.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, access confidential data, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through various vectors including email attachments, web forms, or direct URL manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the platform. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to business-critical information and disruption of collaboration services. Organizations relying on OX App Suite for their communication infrastructure face significant risk of data breaches and service interruptions if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9808 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released after the vulnerability disclosure. Organizations should immediately upgrade to OX App Suite versions that contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks. Additionally, implementing comprehensive web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security configurations should include strict input sanitization, proper output encoding, and regular security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a common attack vector that appears frequently in enterprise web applications. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged for more sophisticated attack campaigns. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and implement security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain overall application security posture.