CVE-2018-20637 in Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website 2.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (unrecoverable blank profile) via crafted JavaScript code in the First Name and Last Name field.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
This vulnerability exists in PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website version 2.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through crafted JavaScript code injection. The vulnerability specifically targets the input validation mechanisms within the First Name and Last Name fields of user profile forms, where malicious JavaScript code can be embedded to disrupt normal application functionality. The attack vector leverages insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can cause the application to crash or render user profiles completely blank and unrecoverable. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of input validation flaws that can lead to various security consequences including data corruption, service disruption, and potential information disclosure. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in web application development where client-side input is not properly validated or sanitized before being processed by the server-side application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and sanitization procedures within the web application's user profile management system. When users submit profile information containing malicious JavaScript code in the First Name or Last Name fields, the application fails to properly validate or escape the input before storing or displaying it. This creates an environment where the injected JavaScript code can execute in the context of the victim's browser or cause server-side processing errors that result in corrupted profile data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to create unrecoverable blank profiles, which represents a complete denial of service condition for affected users. The attack requires no authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can submit data to the vulnerable application. This aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities and CWE-121 which covers buffer overflow conditions in input handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data integrity compromise and user experience degradation. When attackers successfully exploit this flaw, they can render user profiles completely unusable, forcing administrators to manually restore corrupted data or recreate user accounts. The unrecoverable nature of the blank profiles indicates that the application lacks proper data validation and error handling mechanisms to prevent or recover from such injection attacks. This vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including automated exploitation through web crawlers or manual injection by malicious users, potentially affecting multiple users simultaneously if the application does not properly isolate user data. The impact on business operations includes increased administrative overhead for data recovery, potential user frustration, and possible reputational damage from service disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The primary defense involves implementing proper output encoding and input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious JavaScript code from being executed or stored in the application's database. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, utilize parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks, and employ proper input validation libraries that can identify and neutralize malicious payloads. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and data recovery procedures can help minimize the impact when such attacks occur. The solution should include comprehensive testing procedures including penetration testing and input validation testing to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly validated before processing. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and should be addressed through immediate patching or code modification to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as recommended by MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for command and control and credential access.