CVE-2018-7563 in GLPI
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GLPI through 9.2.1. The application is affected by XSS in the query string to front/preference.php. An attacker is able to create a malicious URL that, if opened by an authenticated user with debug privilege, will execute JavaScript code supplied by the attacker. The attacker-supplied code can perform a wide variety of actions, such as stealing the victim's session token or login credentials, performing arbitrary actions on the victim's behalf, and logging their keystrokes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7563 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GLPI (Gestionnaire Libre de Parc Informatique) application version 9.2.1 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the front/preference.php endpoint where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input from query strings. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through crafted URLs that, when executed by authenticated users with debug privileges, can compromise the entire application environment. This represents a severe security risk as it leverages legitimate user sessions to execute unauthorized code, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where GLPI is used for IT asset management and help desk operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the GLPI application's preference handling module. When a user navigates to a specially crafted URL containing malicious JavaScript within the query parameters, the application processes this input without proper sanitization before rendering it in the user interface. This failure directly corresponds to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of user preferences, where the debug privilege level provides attackers with elevated access to execute malicious payloads. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking a malicious link, making it particularly effective for social engineering campaigns targeting privileged users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as authenticated users with debug privileges can be exploited to perform comprehensive attacks against the GLPI environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session tokens, capture login credentials, and execute arbitrary commands on behalf of legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive IT infrastructure data including hardware inventories, software licenses, and user account information. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on GLPI for critical IT management functions, as compromised privileged accounts can lead to complete system infiltration and data exfiltration. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious code, and T1566 for phishing campaigns that can leverage the vulnerability to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7563 should prioritize immediate patching of GLPI applications to versions 9.2.2 or later, where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious query parameters containing JavaScript payloads. Additionally, security teams should enforce strict access controls limiting debug privileges to only essential personnel and implement regular security audits to monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process must include comprehensive user education about phishing risks and the importance of verifying URLs before clicking, as well as implementing content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized scripts within the GLPI environment. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar input validation flaws in other web applications within their infrastructure, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent in many legacy systems.