CVE-2018-15917 in Jorani
Summary
by MITRE
Persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) issues in Jorani 0.6.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the language parameter to session/language.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15917 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Jorani version 0.6.5, a web-based human resources management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the session/language endpoint where the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that allow malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when legitimate users interact with the affected application components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the language parameter manipulation within the session/language endpoint. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through this parameter, the application processes the input without proper sanitization measures, storing the malicious script within the application's session handling mechanism. This persistent nature means that the injected code becomes part of the application's normal operation flow and executes whenever the affected session is accessed, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web output, specifically within the context of session management and language configuration parameters.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-15917 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data, session hijacking capabilities, and the ability to perform unauthorized actions within the application on behalf of legitimate users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access confidential HR information, modify user permissions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code continues to execute against all subsequent users who access the affected session endpoint, potentially compromising a large number of users within the organization's HR system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistent access through web application vulnerabilities, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the Jorani application to version 0.6.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes for the affected endpoint. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate and filter all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in session management and configuration components. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices including parameterized queries, output encoding, and input validation as recommended by OWASP Top Ten and ISO/IEC 27001 security frameworks.