CVE-2018-14776 in Passwordstate
Summary
by MITRE
Click Studios Passwordstate before 8.3 Build 8397 allows XSS by authenticated users via an uploaded HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14776 affects Click Studios Passwordstate software prior to version 8.3 Build 8397, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated users. This flaw resides in the application's handling of uploaded HTML documents, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied content before processing or displaying it within the web interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated users upload HTML files that contain malicious script code, which then executes in the context of other users who view these documents within the Passwordstate application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the document upload and rendering functionality. When users upload HTML documents, the system should ideally strip or escape potentially dangerous script tags, javascript protocols, and other malicious content that could compromise the security of other users accessing the platform. However, in vulnerable versions, the application processes these uploads without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of other authenticated users. This creates a classic cross-site scripting scenario where the attacker's malicious code can access session cookies, perform actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it represents a significant threat to the overall security posture of organizations relying on Passwordstate for credential management. An authenticated attacker with access to upload functionality can potentially escalate their privileges by stealing session tokens, accessing sensitive credential information, or performing unauthorized actions within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges for exploitation, as the attacker only needs valid authentication credentials to the Passwordstate system. This means that any user with legitimate access to the platform could potentially leverage this weakness to compromise other users or gain unauthorized access to sensitive credential repositories.
Organizations using vulnerable versions of Passwordstate face substantial risks including data exfiltration, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The attack vector is straightforward for an attacker who has authenticated access to the system, as they simply need to upload a malicious HTML document containing script code that executes when viewed by other users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages. The exploitability of this vulnerability is further enhanced by the fact that it does not require special privileges or complex attack chains, making it accessible to threat actors with basic authentication credentials.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate upgrading to Passwordstate version 8.3 Build 8397 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and sanitization issues. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting upload permissions to only trusted administrators, implementing content security policies to prevent script execution, and conducting regular security testing of uploaded content. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious upload activities can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive credential information. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to identify and prevent malicious file uploads, and establish clear policies regarding user permissions and access controls to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.