CVE-2018-20636 in Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website 2.0.1 has HTML injection via the First Name field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20636 affects PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website version 2.0.1, representing a critical HTML injection flaw that can be exploited through the First Name input field. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of cross-site scripting attacks and specifically aligns with CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious HTML code into the web application's user interface, potentially compromising the integrity of the web page and user interactions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input from the First Name field is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the web browser. This creates an opportunity for malicious actors to inject HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets a basic input field that is commonly used throughout web applications, making it a prime candidate for exploitation in various attack scenarios. The injection can occur through simple HTML tags or more sophisticated payload structures that leverage browser vulnerabilities.
Operationally, this vulnerability can have significant impact on both user privacy and application integrity. When exploited, the HTML injection can lead to session hijacking, where attackers steal user authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users. Additionally, the injected HTML content could redirect users to malicious websites, harvest sensitive information, or even execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects all users who interact with the application, potentially compromising thousands of individuals who provide their personal information through the web form. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers the use of malicious HTML content to compromise user sessions and data.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. All user-supplied data must be properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web pages, with special attention to HTML character encoding and context-aware output escaping. The application should implement strict input validation that filters out potentially dangerous characters and patterns, while also employing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase. The remediation process should include comprehensive code reviews to ensure that all input fields are properly handled and that the application follows secure coding practices as recommended by OWASP and other industry security standards.