CVE-2018-17849 in Navigate
Summary
by MITRE
Navigate CMS 2.8 has Stored XSS via a navigate_upload.php (aka File Upload) request with a multipart/form-data JavaScript payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17849 affects Navigate CMS version 2.8 and represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that can be exploited through the navigate_upload.php component. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes file upload requests with multipart/form-data content type containing malicious JavaScript payloads. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they access the uploaded content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or incorrectly sanitizing user-provided data, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious payload persists in the application's database or file system rather than being executed only during a single request.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to successfully upload a file containing JavaScript code through the navigate_upload.php endpoint without proper validation. When the application processes this request, it fails to properly sanitize the uploaded file name or content, allowing the JavaScript payload to be stored and subsequently executed whenever users view or interact with the uploaded content. The multipart/form-data content type used in the request enables the upload of files with embedded scripts, bypassing traditional input validation controls that might only check for specific file extensions or content types. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be leveraged by attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands on affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-17849 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with persistent access to affected systems through the stored nature of the vulnerability. Once successfully exploited, attackers can maintain long-term presence within the application environment, potentially escalating privileges, accessing sensitive user data, or using the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the uploaded content, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators and regular users may be exposed to the malicious payload. This stored XSS vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious file uploads and can facilitate subsequent techniques such as credential access through session hijacking and privilege escalation through persistent backdoors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17849 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and file upload restrictions. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Navigate CMS version 2.9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file type validation, sanitizing all user-provided input, and employing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. The application should validate file names and content types against whitelists, reject files with potentially dangerous extensions, and implement proper output encoding when displaying user-supplied content. Security teams should also conduct regular security assessments of file upload functionality and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Organizations should monitor for suspicious file upload activities and implement automated scanning for malicious content within uploaded files. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2017 category a03 and aligns with NIST cybersecurity framework principles for protecting against malicious code execution in web applications.