CVE-2018-13329 in TerraMaster TOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting in ajaxdata.php in TerraMaster TOS version 3.1.03 allows attackers to execute JavaScript via the "lines" URL parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13329 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located within the ajaxdata.php component of TerraMaster TOS version 3.1.03. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector that enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The attack surface is exposed through the "lines" URL parameter, which is processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding mechanisms, creating a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and demonstrates a straightforward attack pattern that leverages the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input. When the "lines" parameter is submitted with malicious content, the application processes this input directly within the response without implementing appropriate security controls such as input validation, output encoding, or Content Security Policy headers. This processing flaw creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, session manipulation, or redirection to malicious sites. The reflected nature of the XSS vulnerability means that attackers must convince victims to click on malicious links containing the crafted payload, making this a social engineering-dependent attack vector. However, the ease of exploitation and the potential for significant damage to user sessions and data integrity makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may interact with untrusted content or where administrative privileges are compromised. The vulnerability affects the entire TerraMaster TOS 3.1.03 ecosystem and could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive system information through session manipulation attacks.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly the "lines" parameter in this case, through proper validation techniques that reject or encode potentially dangerous characters. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The recommended remediation includes updating the application to a patched version that properly handles user input, implementing proper parameter validation, and ensuring that all output is encoded according to the context in which it is rendered. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, demonstrating how web application vulnerabilities can be leveraged to execute malicious code within user browsers and potentially escalate to more severe security incidents.