CVE-2018-20627 in Consumer Reviews Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Consumer Reviews Script 4.0.3 has HTML injection via the search box.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20627 affects the PHP Scripts Mall Consumer Reviews Script version 4.0.3, specifically targeting the search functionality within the application. This issue represents a classic HTML injection vulnerability that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML code into the search box parameter, potentially compromising the integrity of the web application's output and user interactions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the script's search processing logic, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input sequences.
The technical flaw manifests when user input from the search box is directly incorporated into the HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, scripts, or other malicious content that gets rendered in the browser context of other users accessing the application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) conditions where improperly sanitized user input is executed in the browser. This particular implementation likely fails to properly escape special HTML characters or implement Content Security Policy headers that would prevent such injections from executing in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable various attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. When users search for content containing injected HTML, the malicious code executes in their browser context, potentially compromising their sessions and sensitive information. The vulnerability affects all users of the Consumer Reviews Script 4.0.3, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any visitor to the application without requiring authentication or privileged access. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for phishing attacks, defacement of the application, or more sophisticated social engineering campaigns that exploit the trust users place in legitimate application interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20627 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's search functionality. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input before processing, particularly by implementing proper HTML escaping routines that convert special characters into their encoded equivalents. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and other potentially dangerous content. Additionally, the application should employ proper parameterized queries and input validation frameworks that prevent malicious content from being processed as executable code. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving client-side code injection and can be categorized under initial access and persistence mechanisms that leverage web application vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other application components, while also ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP and NIST for preventing XSS vulnerabilities.