CVE-2018-7469 in Entrepreneur Job Portal Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script 2.0.9 has XSS via the p_name (aka Edit Category Name) field to admin/categories_industry.php (aka Categories - Industry Type).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7469 resides within the PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script version 2.0.9, specifically targeting the administrative interface component responsible for managing industry categories. This security flaw manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's administrative panel through the p_name parameter, which corresponds to the Edit Category Name field. The affected endpoint admin/categories_industry.php serves as the primary interface where administrators manage industry type categories, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the administrative functionality of the job portal system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the application's category management module. When administrators access the categories industry page and attempt to edit or create category names, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. This allows attackers to submit malicious payloads through the p_name field that get executed in the context of the administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where the malicious code persists in the application's database and executes whenever the affected page is loaded. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in input handling and demonstrates the critical importance of proper sanitization of all user-provided data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and take complete control of the administrative interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute JavaScript code within the administrator's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized modifications to the job portal's core functionality. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface, which typically possesses elevated privileges and access to sensitive system data. This vulnerability can be exploited through a simple HTTP request containing malicious JavaScript code in the p_name parameter, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to the compromised administrative environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7469 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's category management functionality. The primary fix involves implementing proper sanitization of all user inputs before storing them in the database and ensuring that all output rendered to web pages undergoes appropriate HTML encoding to prevent script execution. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious payloads. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application's codebase. The remediation process should include updating the vulnerable script to version 2.1.0 or later, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Security measures should also include monitoring for suspicious activity within the administrative interface and implementing role-based access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious scripts within the administrative context of the web application.