CVE-2018-16772 in Hoosk
Summary
by MITRE
Hoosk v1.7.0 allows XSS via the Navigation Title of a new page entered at admin/pages/new.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16772 affects Hoosk version 1.7.0 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that resides within the administrative page creation functionality. This issue specifically manifests when administrators attempt to create new pages within the system's content management interface, where the Navigation Title field serves as the attack vector for malicious input injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Hoosk content management system. When administrators enter content into the Navigation Title field during page creation, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This oversight creates an environment where malicious actors can inject javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw can potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive administrative credentials, or manipulate the content management interface to modify or delete critical system data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface, which typically contains the most privileged user accounts and sensitive system information. The attack surface is amplified when considering that administrators often have elevated privileges and may be logged into the system for extended periods, increasing the window of opportunity for exploitation.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which is a fundamental weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it leverages javascript execution capabilities within the browser environment. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten, specifically targeting the A03:2021 - Injection category.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the Hoosk application. The system must ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly in administrative fields like Navigation Title, undergoes strict validation and sanitization before being stored or rendered in web pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Hoosk that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure.