CVE-2018-1000536 in Medis
Summary
by MITRE
Medis version 0.6.1 and earlier contains a XSS vulnerability evolving into code execution due to enabled nodeIntegration for the renderer process vulnerability in Key name parameter on new key creation that can result in Unauthorized code execution in the victim's machine, within the rights of the running application. This attack appear to be exploitable via Victim is synchronizing data from the redis server which contains malicious key value.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000536 affects Medis version 0.6.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that bridges cross-site scripting and remote code execution capabilities. This issue emerges from the application's improper handling of user input within the key name parameter during new key creation processes, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim machines with the privileges of the running application. The vulnerability specifically leverages the enabled nodeIntegration feature within the renderer process, which fundamentally compromises the application's security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the key name parameter processing. When users synchronize data from redis servers containing malicious key values, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it within the application interface. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting condition that can be escalated to code execution through the renderer process's nodeIntegration capabilities. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes key names that contain malicious javascript payloads, which then execute within the context of the application's privileged environment. This represents a classic case of insufficient output escaping combined with dangerous execution contexts, aligning with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and CWE-94 Code Injection vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables full system compromise within the victim's machine. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the Medis application, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system persistence mechanisms, or further network reconnaissance. The attack vector requires victims to synchronize data from a compromised redis server containing malicious key values, making this a supply chain or data integrity attack. The exploitation process involves crafting specially formatted key names that contain javascript payloads, which then execute when the application renders these values in its user interface. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1000536 require immediate application updates to versions that address the input validation issues and proper sanitization of user-supplied content. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all user-provided data, particularly in parameter handling scenarios that involve rendering content within privileged contexts. The nodeIntegration feature should be disabled or properly sandboxed when rendering untrusted content, as this capability fundamentally enables the escalation from XSS to code execution. Additionally, network-level controls should be implemented to monitor and restrict access to potentially compromised redis servers. Security configurations should enforce proper content sanitization and output encoding, ensuring that any user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as executable code within the application's rendering context. Regular security assessments and dependency updates remain crucial for maintaining protection against similar vulnerabilities in desktop application environments.