CVE-2018-5754 in OX AppSuite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the office-web component in Open-Xchange OX App Suite before 7.8.3-rev12 and 7.8.4 before 7.8.4-rev9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted presentation file, related to copying content to the clipboard.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The CVE-2018-5754 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the office-web component of Open-Xchange OX App Suite, affecting versions prior to 7.8.3-rev12 and 7.8.4-rev9. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of presentation files and specifically manifests when users copy content to the clipboard, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-provided content within the clipboard functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of presentation files that contain crafted content designed to trigger XSS when copied to the clipboard. When legitimate users interact with these maliciously formatted files and subsequently copy content to their clipboard, the application fails to properly sanitize the data before rendering it in the user interface. This failure creates a persistent XSS condition where the malicious code executes within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how clipboard operations can serve as unexpected attack vectors for web-based exploits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Open-Xchange OX App Suite, as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users unknowingly open malicious presentation files. Attackers can craft specially formatted files that appear legitimate but contain hidden malicious scripts. Once copied to the clipboard, these scripts execute when users paste content into applications or web interfaces, potentially compromising entire user sessions. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and establishment of persistent backdoors within the organization's communication infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where users frequently share content through clipboard operations.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the patched versions of Open-Xchange OX App Suite, specifically versions 7.8.3-rev12 and 7.8.4-rev9, which contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement strict content filtering and sanitization policies for presentation files, particularly those originating from external sources or untrusted users. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening suspicious files and the importance of verifying content before copying to clipboard. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web-based attack vector under the 'Command and Control' and 'Credential Access' tactics, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on web-based collaboration tools.