CVE-2018-20642 in Entrepreneur Job Portal Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script 3.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (outage of profile editing) via crafted JavaScript code in the KeySkills field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20642 affects PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script version 3.0.1, representing a significant security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt service availability. This particular flaw manifests within the profile editing functionality of the job portal system, where an attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code into the KeySkills field to trigger a denial of service condition. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's data processing pipeline, specifically targeting user-submitted content that gets rendered in the profile editing interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic cross-site scripting attack vector where the KeySkills field serves as the injection point for malicious JavaScript payloads. When an attacker submits crafted JavaScript code containing special characters or script tags, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before storing or rendering it within the user profile editing interface. This lack of proper input filtering creates an environment where malicious code can execute in the context of other users' browsers or cause the application to malfunction during profile processing. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 - Cross-Site Scripting and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute code in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise user data integrity and application availability. When the malicious JavaScript code is processed through the KeySkills field, it can cause the profile editing functionality to crash or become unresponsive, effectively preventing legitimate users from modifying their professional profiles. This denial of service condition specifically targets the core user management features of the job portal, which can severely impact user experience and business operations. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with basic knowledge of web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20642 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. Organizations should implement strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those fields that are rendered in web interfaces, using established libraries and frameworks designed to prevent XSS attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. Additionally, the affected PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script version 3.0.1 should be updated to a patched version that addresses the input validation flaws, as recommended by the software vendor and security advisories from organizations such as the National Vulnerability Database. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential impact that seemingly minor security flaws can have on overall system availability and user experience.