CVE-2018-25349 in userSpice
Summary
by MITRE • 05/23/2026
userSpice 4.3.24 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts through the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header. Attackers can send crafted requests to the backup.php endpoint with XSS payloads in the X-Forwarded-For header that execute when administrators visit the audit log page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2026
The vulnerability in userSpice 4.3.24 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness that exploits the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header to deliver malicious payloads to administrators. This flaw resides in the application's handling of HTTP headers during backup operations, specifically when the backup.php endpoint processes requests containing crafted X-Forwarded-For values. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of HTTP headers, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of administrative sessions. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the audit log page functionality, where administrators naturally navigate to review system activities, making the exploitation contextually ideal for privilege escalation and session hijacking. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how HTTP header manipulation can bypass traditional security controls. The threat model follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for initial access through web application vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious request to the backup.php endpoint with a specially formatted X-Forwarded-For header containing XSS payloads. The application fails to properly sanitize this header value before displaying it in the audit log interface, creating a persistent XSS condition. When administrators visit the audit log page, the malicious script executes within their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of administrators, or redirect users to malicious sites. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the attacker only needs to send a request to the backup endpoint, and the vulnerability is triggered automatically when administrators view the audit logs. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning as it can be automated and does not require user interaction beyond normal administrative browsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential full system compromise. Administrators who view the audit log page become victims of the XSS attack, which can lead to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that malicious scripts can be stored in the audit log entries and executed repeatedly whenever the page is loaded. This creates a continuous threat vector that can be exploited multiple times, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to the system. Organizations relying on userSpice for user management and system administration face significant risk, particularly in environments where administrators regularly review audit logs for security monitoring purposes. The vulnerability's exploitation can also impact compliance requirements and audit integrity, as malicious entries may be introduced into the system's logging infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of userSpice to version 4.3.25 or later, which addresses the XSS flaw in header processing. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding for all HTTP headers, particularly X-Forwarded-For, ensuring that any user-supplied values are sanitized before being displayed in administrative interfaces. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious X-Forwarded-For header values, while application-level defenses should enforce strict content security policies to prevent script execution. Regular security audits of HTTP header handling within applications are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities, and administrators should be educated about the risks of viewing audit logs from untrusted sources. Additionally, implementing least privilege access controls and monitoring for unusual backup operations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for web application security, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar header-based injection vulnerabilities.