CVE-2018-17054 in Sitefinity CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Identity Server in Progress Sitefinity CMS versions 10.0 through 11.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to login request parameters, a different vulnerability than CVE-2018-17053.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2020
The CVE-2018-17054 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Progress Sitefinity CMS identity server components affecting versions 10.0 through 11.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and login request parameter handling mechanisms, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw resides in how the system processes and validates login request parameters, failing to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. Unlike CVE-2018-17053 which addressed different attack vectors, this particular vulnerability focuses on the authentication flow where login parameters are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during the user authentication process when credentials are submitted.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Sitefinity identity server module. When login requests are processed, the system fails to adequately filter or escape special characters in parameters such as username, password, or redirect URL values that are subsequently rendered in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including malformed login parameters, crafted redirect URLs, or manipulated authentication tokens that bypass normal validation checks. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-17054 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the entire authentication ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect authenticated users to malicious sites, or inject persistent XSS payloads that affect all users of the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Sitefinity CMS serves as a primary content management platform, as it can provide attackers with a foothold for further exploitation. The attack surface is broad since login parameters are frequently accessed and processed, making this vulnerability difficult to detect and prevent through standard security monitoring. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1531 for credential access through session manipulation, representing a significant threat to authentication integrity.
Organizations utilizing affected Sitefinity versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by Progress Software, as the vulnerability creates persistent security risks that can be exploited by threat actors without requiring privileged access. The recommended mitigations include implementing comprehensive input validation at all entry points, deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, and establishing strict output encoding policies for all dynamic content generation. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify potential exploitation paths and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous login parameter patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user inputs, particularly within authentication flows, as these components represent prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise system security. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and session management improvements to reduce the overall risk exposure from this and similar vulnerabilities.