CVE-2018-20138 in Entrepreneur B2B Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur B2B Script 3.0.6 allows Stored XSS via Account Settings fields such as FirstName and LastName, a similar issue to CVE-2018-14541.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20138 affects the PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur B2B Script version 3.0.6, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that compromises user session integrity and data confidentiality. This vulnerability specifically targets the Account Settings functionality where users can modify their FirstName and LastName fields, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that persists across user sessions and can affect multiple victims. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the web application's user profile management system, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads injected by one user are permanently stored on the server and subsequently served to other users who access the affected pages, creating a persistent threat that can affect numerous victims over time. This particular implementation demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in web forms can lead to severe security implications, as the application fails to properly escape or encode special characters in the FirstName and LastName fields before rendering them in HTML contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage the stored XSS to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even executing arbitrary code within the victim's browser context. The similarity to CVE-2018-14541 indicates a pattern of insecure input handling within the same software family, suggesting that other fields or components may also be vulnerable to similar attacks. This vulnerability particularly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user data within the B2B platform, potentially exposing sensitive business information and compromising the trust relationship between the application and its users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate input validation and output encoding implementations that follow secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and the ATT&CK framework's defensive measures against web application attacks. The primary remediation involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, combined with robust input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using secure session management practices can significantly reduce the attack surface and impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewall rules to detect and block common XSS attack patterns, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of defensive coding practices and input sanitization in preventing persistent security flaws that can compromise entire user bases within web applications.