CVE-2018-0508 in kkcald
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in epg search result viewer (kkcald) 0.7.21 and earlier allows an attacker to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0508 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the epg search result viewer component known as kkcald version 0.7.21 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection attacks that exploit the improper handling of user-supplied input within web applications. The affected component specifically processes search results for electronic program guide data, making it a critical point of entry for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions or manipulate displayed content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided data before rendering it in the web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors within the search functionality. This typically occurs when the application accepts user input without proper sanitization and directly incorporates it into dynamically generated web pages. The lack of proper input validation creates an environment where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or the redirection of users to malicious sites. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack surface may encompass multiple input points within the search functionality, including but not limited to search terms, filter parameters, or result display elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation. When exploited successfully, the XSS flaw enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the compromised search results. This can lead to session fixation attacks, where attackers gain unauthorized access to user accounts, or facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting through keylogging scripts. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on the epg search functionality, as any search query or result display could serve as a potential attack vector. The implications are especially severe in environments where sensitive program guide data or user-specific viewing preferences are displayed, as these contexts may provide attackers with additional opportunities for data exfiltration or system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0508 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected kkcald component to version 0.7.22 or later, as this represents the most direct and effective solution. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the application context. Security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options and X-Frame-Options should be configured to prevent MIME type sniffing and clickjacking attacks that may compound the effects of the XSS vulnerability. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding practices should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, aligning with the principles outlined in CWE-79 for cross-site scripting prevention and ATT&CK technique T1059.002 for command and scripting interpreter usage.