CVE-2018-0695 in User-Friendly SVN
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in User-friendly SVN (USVN) Version 1.0.7 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The CVE-2018-0695 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw identified in User-friendly SVN (USVN) version 1.0.7 and earlier releases. 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. The vulnerability specifically affects the USVN platform, which is designed to provide a web-based interface for Subversion version control systems, making it a target for attackers seeking to exploit web application weaknesses. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors, potentially enabling them to execute malicious code in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the system, making it accessible to anyone who can interact with the vulnerable application.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the USVN application. When users interact with the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This allows malicious actors to inject script tags, JavaScript code, or HTML content that gets executed by victim browsers when they view affected pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may exist across multiple input points within the application, potentially including repository names, file paths, user comments, or other user-controllable fields. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack because the malicious code is typically injected through URLs or form submissions and then reflected back to users. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain access to systems through web application attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0695 is significant and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on USVN for version control management. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even establish persistent backdoors within the organization's network. The vulnerability could be exploited to compromise the integrity of source code repositories, potentially leading to code injection attacks or the exfiltration of sensitive intellectual property. Additionally, the attack could be used to deface web interfaces, disrupt services, or perform phishing attacks against other users within the organization. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the network or system, making it particularly dangerous for distributed teams or organizations with remote access requirements. Organizations using USVN versions prior to 1.0.8 are at risk of having their version control systems compromised, potentially affecting the entire software development lifecycle and code integrity management processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0695 should focus on immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary and most effective solution is to upgrade to USVN version 1.0.8 or later, which includes patches specifically addressing the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security testing, including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. Network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while user education and awareness programs can help prevent social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can also provide real-time detection and prevention capabilities for XSS attack attempts, aligning with ATT&CK tactics that involve defense evasion and execution phases of the attack lifecycle.