CVE-2018-12653 in Adrenalin
Summary
by MITRE
A Reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Adrenalin HRMS 5.4.0. An attacker can input malicious JavaScript code in /RPT/SSRSDynamicEditReports.aspx via 'ReportId' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12653 represents a critical reflected cross site scripting flaw within the Adrenalin HRMS version 5.4.0 web application. This security weakness specifically manifests in the SSRSDynamicEditReports.aspx page where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being reflected back to the browser. The vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the ReportId parameter to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. The flaw enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server in response to the user's request, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through email links or other social engineering methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session manipulation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to the HRMS application by injecting malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, modify database records, or escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive human resources data including employee records, payroll information, and personal details. When considering the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for spearphishing with social engineering techniques, as attackers can craft convincing phishing emails that contain the malicious payload. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email-based social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into clicking malicious links that exploit this reflected XSS weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12653 must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input parameters including the ReportId parameter through proper validation techniques that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also implement proper web application firewall rules that can detect and block suspicious patterns in URL parameters. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Adrenalin HRMS that addresses this specific vulnerability, as recommended by the vendor's security advisories. Additionally, comprehensive security training for developers on secure coding practices and regular vulnerability assessments will help prevent similar issues from occurring in other parts of the application infrastructure.