CVE-2018-0551 in Garoon
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cybozu Garoon 3.0.0 to 4.6.1 allows remote authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0551 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cybozu Garoon versions 3.0.0 through 4.6.1. This security weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating an attack surface where user-supplied data can be improperly handled and subsequently rendered in web pages without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the Garoon application's data processing workflows. Attackers with legitimate authentication credentials can leverage this flaw to inject malicious payloads into various application components including forms, comments, or user profile fields. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to properly escape or encode special characters in user input before rendering them in HTML contexts, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code or embed malicious HTML elements that persist within the application's user interface. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness involving the improper handling of untrusted data within web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0551 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as authenticated attackers can potentially escalate their privileges or conduct session hijacking attacks. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, they can access sensitive user data, modify application functionality, or redirect users to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers do not require elevated privileges to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users maintain legitimate access to the system. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including but not limited to email notifications, calendar entries, document comments, or any user-generated content fields within the Garoon application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0551 should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the identified XSS flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing or display. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on data handling practices and implement automated security testing including dynamic application security testing tools to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while user education regarding phishing and social engineering attacks remains crucial in preventing unauthorized access to authenticated sessions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers the use of scripting languages for execution, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering tactics that may facilitate initial access to authenticated user accounts.