CVE-2018-7196 in osTicket
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in /scp/index.php in Enhancesoft osTicket before 1.10.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "sort" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2020
The CVE-2018-7196 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Enhancesoft osTicket system prior to version 1.10.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the /scp/index.php endpoint, which serves as the administrator control panel for the ticketing system. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts by manipulating the "sort" parameter, which is used for organizing and displaying ticket data within the administrative interface. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the administrative interface. When administrators navigate to the ticket management section and attempt to sort tickets by various criteria, the system processes the sort parameter directly without adequate validation. Attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code through the sort parameter, which then executes in the context of other administrators' browsers who view the affected page. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious actors can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic insecure data handling pattern where user-supplied input flows directly into executable code without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for organizations relying on osTicket for customer support management. Administrators who access the compromised interface become potential victims of session hijacking attacks, allowing attackers to assume administrative privileges and gain full access to sensitive customer data, ticket histories, and system configurations. This represents a critical escalation path that could lead to data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and complete compromise of the support infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that have not updated to version 1.10.2 or later, leaving them exposed to persistent attacks that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Organizations should immediately implement the patch provided by Enhancesoft for osTicket version 1.10.2, which addresses the input validation issue in the sort parameter handling. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious parameter values in the sort field and block known malicious payloads. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security reviews of their administrative interfaces to identify similar input validation gaps. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and with the broader category of web application attacks. Security teams should also implement regular security testing procedures including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their environment.