CVE-2018-0698 in GROWI
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in GROWI v3.2.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0698 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within GROWI version 3.2.3 and earlier releases. This vulnerability falls under the category of input validation and output encoding failures, specifically categorized as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The issue manifests in the web application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of GROWI, which is a collaborative knowledge management platform designed for creating and sharing documentation, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on this system for information sharing and collaboration.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve user-controllable input fields within the GROWI application. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, deface web pages, or redirect users to malicious sites. The impact is amplified by the fact that GROWI is designed for collaborative environments where users frequently input and view content, making it likely that a single malicious input could affect multiple users within the system. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector through web scripting demonstrates the severity of the flaw in a web application context.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0698 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the application environment. This vulnerability can be leveraged to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, or as a stepping stone for further exploitation within the network. Organizations using vulnerable versions of GROWI face significant risk of data breaches, as the vulnerability allows attackers to access information that would normally be protected by the application's access controls. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of information within the system, as attackers can modify content that other users trust, potentially leading to misinformation campaigns or the compromise of critical business documentation. Security teams must consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and incident response planning, as it represents a common attack vector that can be exploited without requiring privileged access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0698 should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to GROWI version 3.2.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the cross-site scripting vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their applications, ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks, while regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and adhere to the principle of least privilege when implementing web applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper input validation techniques, as these measures align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control and credential access. Regular security awareness training for developers and administrators is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into applications, as this type of flaw often results from insufficient attention to input sanitization during the development lifecycle.