CVE-2018-11124 in Open-AudIT Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Attributes functionality in Open-AudIT Community edition before 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted attribute name of an Attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11124 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Open-AudIT Community edition software, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.2.2. This vulnerability resides in the Attributes functionality of the application, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application security weaknesses. The issue manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user input during attribute name processing, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of attribute names within the Attributes functionality, where an attacker can craft a malicious attribute name containing embedded script code. When this crafted attribute name is processed and displayed within the application's user interface, the embedded JavaScript code executes in the victim's browser session, bypassing normal security restrictions. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a vulnerability where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core Attributes functionality, which is likely used extensively throughout the application's operational scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate application data, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker could potentially escalate the attack by using the XSS payload to capture authentication tokens or cookies, thereby gaining unauthorized access to user sessions. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is accessible from untrusted networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access Through Persistence, as it enables persistent access through session manipulation and credential theft.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Attributes functionality. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to Open-AudIT Community edition version 2.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, developers should implement strict sanitization of all user-provided input, particularly in attribute name fields, using established encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output rendering. Security measures should also include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and regular security testing of input validation mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability.