CVE-2018-16235 in Community
Summary
by MITRE
Telligent Community 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, and 10.x up to 10.1.10.11792 has XSS via the Feed RSS widget.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16235 affects Telligent Community platforms across multiple versions including 6.x through 10.x up to 10.1.10.11792. This represents a cross-site scripting weakness that specifically targets the Feed RSS widget functionality within the community platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. Security researchers have classified this as a medium severity issue under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The affected widget allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts through improperly validated RSS feed inputs, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when users interact with the Feed RSS widget and encounter maliciously crafted RSS feeds that contain embedded script tags or other malicious code. When the platform renders these feeds without proper sanitization, the injected scripts execute within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the platform's legitimate RSS feed functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. Attackers can craft malicious RSS feeds that contain javascript code, iframe tags, or other script-based attacks that execute when users view the affected widget. The implementation flaw exists in how the platform processes and displays external RSS content without adequate content security measures or output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. Users who view compromised RSS feeds may unknowingly have their browser sessions compromised, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and access restricted community features. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected Telligent Community installations, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on this platform for community management and collaboration. Organizations may face reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential data breaches if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability to access user information or community data. The attack surface is particularly broad given that RSS feeds are commonly used for news aggregation, social media integration, and content syndication within community platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16235 should focus on immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the Feed RSS widget functionality. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the specific XSS vulnerability in the RSS feed processing logic. Security measures should include implementing strict content filtering for RSS feed inputs, employing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and configuring content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Network security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious RSS feed patterns and malicious script injections. Regular security assessments should verify that the RSS feed processing logic properly sanitizes all user inputs and that output encoding mechanisms are functioning correctly. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both server-side input validation and client-side security controls to prevent XSS attacks that exploit legitimate platform features. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of clicking on untrusted RSS feeds and the potential for malicious content injection in community platforms.