CVE-2018-17049 in CQU-LANKERS
Summary
by MITRE
CQU-LANKERS through 2017-11-02 has XSS via the public/api.php callback parameter in an uploadpic action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17049 resides within the CQU-LANKERS application, a system that appears to handle file uploads through its public/api.php endpoint. This particular flaw manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that specifically targets the callback parameter during an uploadpic action. The vulnerability was discovered and documented before November 2, 2017, indicating it was present in versions of the software released prior to that date. The attack vector involves manipulation of the callback parameter which is processed within the uploadpic action context, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the application's API handling logic. When the uploadpic action processes the callback parameter, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the callback parameter, which then executes when the response is rendered in a victim's browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the public/api.php endpoint, suggesting that the application's API layer lacks proper security controls for parameter validation. This weakness enables attackers to construct malicious payloads that can execute in the context of legitimate users who view the affected pages, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When successful, the XSS attack can allow malicious actors to steal cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information from authenticated users. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that it operates through the upload functionality, which suggests that it may be exploited through file upload mechanisms that could be leveraged to deliver malicious content to multiple users. This creates a potential for widespread impact within systems where the application is deployed, particularly if the application serves users with elevated privileges or handles sensitive data. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication for the initial attack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17049 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures within the application's API handling components. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters used in dynamic response generation, through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding and JavaScript context escaping. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes any input containing potentially malicious script content. The application should also employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the software should be updated to a version that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original version was released in 2017 and likely contains other security weaknesses that compound the XSS risk. Security teams should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including proper input validation, output encoding, and security monitoring protocols to prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerability.