CVE-2018-6861 in Lawyer Search Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) exists in PHP Scripts Mall Lawyer Search Script 1.0.2 via a profile update parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6861 represents a cross site scripting flaw within the PHP Scripts Mall Lawyer Search Script version 1.0.2, classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the profile update parameter, which fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected profile pages, creating a persistent security risk within the application's user interaction framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's profile update functionality. When users submit profile information through the update parameter, the system does not properly filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness allows malicious actors to craft payloads containing script tags or other executable code that gets stored in the application's database and subsequently rendered to other users without proper sanitization. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-provided data is processed and displayed, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users who interact with the compromised profile information.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could inject scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing pages, or even modify the content of the affected web pages to display fraudulent information. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until the profile is updated or the database entries are manually cleared. This creates a long-term security risk for the application's user base and potentially exposes sensitive information from the affected users' sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6861 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling processes. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs using established encoding functions such as htmlspecialchars in php or similar mechanisms in other languages to prevent script execution in web contexts. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and organizations should consider updating to patched versions of the Lawyer Search Script or implementing web application firewalls as interim protective measures. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the application's codebase.