CVE-2018-15635 in Community
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in the Discuss App of Odoo Community 12.0 and earlier, and Odoo Enterprise 12.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script in the browser of an internal user of the system by tricking them into inviting a follower on a document with a crafted name.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15635 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Discuss App of Odoo Community and Enterprise editions version 12.0 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the document follower invitation mechanism where the application fails to properly sanitize user input when processing crafted names during the invitation process. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of internal users who are tricked into accepting invitations containing malicious payload. The vulnerability specifically targets the web interface components responsible for displaying user names and document metadata, creating an attack surface where unfiltered input can be rendered as executable JavaScript code. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic XSS attack vector that can be exploited through user interaction.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious name containing embedded script code and then invite a victim to follow a document using this crafted name. When the victim views the document or related notifications, the malicious script executes in their browser context with the privileges of the authenticated user. This creates a significant risk for internal users since the attack can leverage the victim's existing permissions and session cookies to perform actions within the Odoo system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where internal users have elevated privileges and access to sensitive business data. The attack vector is typically initiated through social engineering where users are tricked into accepting invitations, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable full account compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious scripts that can harvest sensitive information from the Odoo application. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Odoo system since internal users with access to various modules and data can become compromised. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of organizations relying on Odoo for business operations, as it can lead to unauthorized access to financial records, customer data, and other sensitive business information. The attack can also be used to escalate privileges within the system, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative access and compromise the entire application infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-provided names and text fields within the Discuss App. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML encoding and output sanitization for all dynamic content rendered in the web interface. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to versions of Odoo that address this vulnerability, with a focus on ensuring that all user input is properly validated before being stored or displayed. Network security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious patterns in user invitations and document interactions. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should be implemented to help users recognize potential social engineering attempts that could lead to exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities and highlighting the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines.