CVE-2018-17129 in MetInfo
Summary
by MITRE
MetInfo 6.1.0 has XSS in doexport() in app/system/feedback/admin/feedback_admin.class.php via the class1 field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17129 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in MetInfo version 6.1.0 within the feedback management module. This security weakness exists in the doexport() function located in the file app/system/feedback/admin/feedback_admin.class.php, specifically affecting the class1 field parameter. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a common web application security flaw where malicious scripts are injected into trusted websites. The attack vector exploits the insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's feedback handling system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through the class1 parameter when executing the doexport() function. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization, it fails to encode special characters appropriately, enabling the execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser. This flaw occurs because the application does not adequately filter or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface where feedback data is managed, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized users to escalate privileges or compromise the entire system through session hijacking or data exfiltration techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal administrator sessions, modify feedback records, or even redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting JavaScript execution within web browsers. This weakness could enable attackers to perform persistent attacks against the web application, potentially leading to complete system compromise through session manipulation or data breach scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17129 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's feedback handling processes. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the class1 field parameter, before processing or displaying them in web responses. This includes implementing strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes proper HTML encoding before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, particularly in areas handling user input for export functions or administrative operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks.