CVE-2018-7447 in mojoPortal
Summary
by MITRE
mojoPortal through 2.6.0.0 is prone to multiple persistent cross-site scripting vulnerabilities because it fails to sanitize user-supplied input. The 'Title' and 'Subtitle' fields of the 'Blog' page are vulnerable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7447 affects mojoPortal content management systems through version 2.6.0.0 and represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications utilizing this platform. This vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the Blog page functionality, specifically targeting the Title and Subtitle fields. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected content is rendered to other users, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the mojoPortal application's blog management module. When users submit content containing malicious script code within the Title or Subtitle fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before storing it in the database. This omission creates a condition where the stored scripts are subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected blog posts. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies the issue as a cross-site scripting flaw, specifically a persistent variant where the malicious input is stored and then re-executed multiple times. This persistent nature distinguishes it from reflected XSS attacks and makes it particularly dangerous as the malicious code can affect numerous users over extended periods.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7447 extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the compromised environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated users, potentially enabling them to access sensitive administrative functions or steal session cookies that could allow full administrative control over the affected website. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts continue to execute for all users who view the affected content, creating an ongoing attack surface that can be exploited by multiple threat actors over time. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for credential access, as it enables both code execution and potential privilege escalation through session manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7447 require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding measures within the mojoPortal application. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that strips or encodes potentially dangerous characters and sequences before storing user-supplied content. The recommended approach involves applying HTML encoding to all user-generated content before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that any script tags or malicious payloads are neutralized during output processing. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if input sanitization fails. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of mojoPortal that addresses the specific sanitization deficiencies in the blog page functionality, as this eliminates the root cause of the vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the application and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.