CVE-2018-6864 in Multi Religion Responsive Matrimonial
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) exists in PHP Scripts Mall Multi religion Responsive Matrimonial 4.7.2 via a user profile update parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6864 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the PHP Scripts Mall Multi religion Responsive Matrimonial platform version 4.7.2. This security weakness allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into user profiles, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the matrimonial website ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the user profile update parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate input data before processing and storing user-contributed content.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's profile management functionality. When users attempt to update their profile information, the system does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in the context of other users' browsers, can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious websites, or modifying profile information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent footholds within the matrimonial platform by executing malicious scripts that capture user credentials or session tokens. The multi-religion responsive matrimonial nature of the platform suggests a diverse user base with potentially sensitive personal information, making the exploitation of this vulnerability particularly concerning. Users may unknowingly execute malicious scripts when viewing compromised profiles, leading to widespread compromise of the platform's user community. This type of vulnerability also provides attackers with opportunities to conduct phishing campaigns or defacement activities that could damage the reputation of the entire platform.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing strict input sanitization routines that filter out potentially dangerous characters and sequences, employing proper output encoding when displaying user-generated content, and utilizing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, the platform should adopt secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and follow established security frameworks such as those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter, highlighting how such flaws enable attackers to execute malicious code within user contexts.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive personal information. The multi-religion matrimonial platform context increases the potential impact as users may share highly personal details that could be harvested through successful XSS attacks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of this vulnerability and implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect any exploitation attempts. The remediation process should involve thorough code reviews focusing on all user input handling mechanisms, along with establishing secure development lifecycle practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.