CVE-2018-13039 in OpenSID
Summary
by MITRE
OpenSID 18.06-pasca has reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) via the cari parameter, aka an index.php/first?cari= URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
OpenSID version 18.06-pasca contains a reflected cross site scripting vulnerability that allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications through the cari parameter in the index.php/first?cari= URI. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The reflected XSS occurs when user input is immediately returned in the application response without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an opportunity for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser. The specific attack vector involves manipulating the cari parameter to inject malicious payloads that will be reflected back to users who click on the crafted links or visit the vulnerable page. This vulnerability can be exploited to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or deface the web application interface. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on client systems. The flaw represents a critical security risk for OpenSID installations as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Organizations using this version of OpenSID should prioritize immediate remediation through input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization to prevent exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices within the OpenSID application framework. When users submit queries through the cari parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before returning it in the HTTP response. This creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be crafted to appear in the URL parameter and then reflected back by the server to execute in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through various means including phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting the malicious link, making it highly effective for mass exploitation. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting conditions where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability represents a failure in the application's security architecture and demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including Content Security Policy headers, input validation, and output encoding.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13039 should include immediate application patching to address the reflected XSS vulnerability in OpenSID 18.06-pasca. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious payloads from being executed in the browser context. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through parameter validation and encoding output data before rendering it in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability. The vulnerability can be addressed through proper parameter handling where the cari parameter is validated against expected input patterns and any suspicious content is rejected or encoded. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and logging mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for security incident response. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be established to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the application. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices for web application security and follow guidelines established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security.