CVE-2018-11200 in Mautic
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Mautic 2.13.1. It has Stored XSS via the company name field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-11200 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within Mautic version 2.13.1 that specifically targets the company name field functionality. This issue allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected data is rendered to users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the company information handling component of the marketing automation platform. Security researchers identified that when users enter company names containing malicious script code, the application fails to properly escape or filter these inputs before storing them in the database. This oversight creates a persistent threat vector where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the stored company information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which catalogs cross-site scripting flaws as a critical web application security weakness. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are not limited to a single session or request but remain embedded in the application's data store until actively removed. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in victims' browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation within the application if the victim has administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Mautic's contact management system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on customer data management and marketing automation workflows.
Operational impact of CVE-2018-11200 is significant for organizations using Mautic 2.13.1, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of stored customer data. The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential data breaches, and disruption of marketing automation processes. Organizations may experience reputational damage when customers' personal information becomes compromised through this vector, particularly in industries where data protection regulations such as GDPR or CCPA apply. The attack surface is broad since any user with access to the company information fields can potentially introduce malicious content, and the stored nature of the vulnerability means that impacts persist long after initial injection. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within the application if attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or access additional system resources. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of insecure data storage and cross-site scripting attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11200 should prioritize immediate patching of Mautic to version 2.13.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and output sanitization. Organizations should implement comprehensive input filtering mechanisms that strip or escape potentially dangerous characters from company name fields and all other user-inputted data. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution even if input validation fails. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any other fields that may be susceptible to similar vulnerabilities, as this represents a broader pattern of insufficient input validation. Regular security audits of web applications should include checks for stored XSS vulnerabilities, particularly in data entry points that are frequently used and contain user-controlled information. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized data modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies and proper input sanitization practices as recommended by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.