CVE-2018-10307 in ILIAS
Summary
by MITRE
error.php in ILIAS 5.2.x through 5.3.x before 5.3.4 allows XSS via the text of a PDO exception.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10307 affects ILIAS learning management systems version 5.2.x through 5.3.x before 5.3.4, specifically within the error.php component. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper input sanitization when handling PDO exception messages. The flaw occurs when the system encounters database errors and displays exception text directly to users without adequate sanitization measures, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's error handling mechanism.
The technical root cause stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-controllable input data within the error reporting functionality. When PDO (PHP Data Objects) encounters database errors, it generates exception messages that contain raw error information including potentially malicious content. The error.php script processes these messages without implementing proper output encoding or sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious exception text that gets rendered directly in the browser. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more specifically aligns with CWE-80 which deals with improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple malicious script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface the learning management system, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker could potentially craft a database error that includes malicious JavaScript code within the exception text, which would execute in the context of other users' browsers when they encounter the error page. This creates a persistent threat vector that could affect multiple users simultaneously, particularly in educational environments where users may be less security-aware and more likely to click on unexpected content. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting languages and T1566 which involves phishing attacks through social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 5.3.4 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding for exception messages. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security assessments of error handling components. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while user education about suspicious content and behavior monitoring can help detect exploitation attempts. The fix should ensure that all exception messages undergo proper HTML entity encoding before display, preventing malicious scripts from executing in user browsers while maintaining the diagnostic value of error messages for legitimate debugging purposes.