CVE-2018-10095 in Dolibarr
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Dolibarr before 7.0.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the foruserlogin parameter to adherents/cartes/carte.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10095 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Dolibarr ERP/CRM platform affecting versions prior to 7.0.2. This security weakness resides in the cartes/carte.php script which processes user input through the foruserlogin parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected user browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft. The vulnerability specifically impacts the user management and card generation components of the platform, where user login information is processed and displayed. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed when legitimate users view the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators or other users might interact with compromised content. The XSS vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to bypass standard security controls such as web application firewalls or browser security mechanisms that typically protect against such attacks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application flaws.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the web application's rendering pipeline. When the foruserlogin parameter is passed to the carte.php script, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize the input before incorporating it into dynamic HTML content. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML elements that will execute in the browser context of other users who access the affected page. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be delivered through various means including crafted URLs, email attachments, or even through compromised user accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. From an operational perspective, this flaw can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the application. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special tools beyond standard web browser capabilities and can be automated using various scripting techniques.
Organizations utilizing Dolibarr versions prior to 7.0.2 face significant operational risks from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where the platform serves as a central hub for business operations and contains sensitive financial or customer data. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or system. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to automated attack campaigns and nation-state actors who seek to leverage such flaws for reconnaissance or data exfiltration purposes. The attack surface is broad as any user who accesses the affected functionality could potentially be compromised, making it difficult to contain the impact once exploitation occurs. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in the application's codebase and highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage web-based exploitation methods. The security implications extend to compliance requirements for organizations subject to regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or pci dss where such vulnerabilities could result in significant regulatory penalties and operational disruption.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the patched version 7.0.2 or later releases that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems are updated promptly when security vulnerabilities are identified and remediated. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, regular security code reviews, and input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and alert on suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect XSS vulnerabilities in web applications and provide ongoing monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. Regular staff training on secure coding practices and vulnerability awareness programs can further reduce the risk of successful exploitation by ensuring that developers and administrators understand the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing such attacks.