CVE-2018-16480 in Module Public
Summary
by MITRE
A XSS vulnerability was found in module public <0.1.4 that allows malicious Javascript code to run in the browser, due to the absence of sanitization of the file/folder names before rendering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16480 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the public module version 0.1.3 and earlier, specifically affecting applications that handle file and folder name rendering in web interfaces. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly process user-supplied data before displaying it within the browser context. The vulnerability exists in the module's handling of file and folder names, where malicious actors can inject javascript code that executes in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further exploitation of the affected system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically manifesting as cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw occurs when the application receives file or folder names from user input without implementing proper sanitization or encoding measures before rendering these values in HTML contexts. This allows attackers to craft malicious filenames containing javascript payloads that execute when the affected interface displays these names, typically through dynamic content generation or user interface elements that display directory structures or file listings.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-16480 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to inject javascript code that can access the victim's session cookies, potentially leading to unauthorized authentication or privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users can upload or create files and folders, as it provides a direct vector for persistent malicious code injection that can affect all users interacting with the vulnerable application interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms that prevent javascript execution in web contexts. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 0.1.4 or later of the public module where the sanitization issue has been addressed. Additionally, developers should implement proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering in web interfaces, utilize Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and employ input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious characters. The remediation approach should follow established security practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces. Regular security testing and code review processes should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.