CVE-2018-8912 in Note Station
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SYNO.NoteStation.Note in Synology Note Station before 2.5.1-0844 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the commit_msg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2023
The CVE-2018-8912 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Synology Note Station's SYNO.NoteStation.Note component affecting versions prior to 2.5.1-0844. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within the commit_msg parameter, creating a persistent security weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw operates through improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to adequately filter or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This vulnerability specifically impacts the Note Station application's version 2.5.0 and earlier, making it a targeted issue for users operating within the Synology DSM ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where authenticated users can manipulate the commit_msg parameter to inject malicious payloads that will be executed when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page output. This weakness allows attackers to bypass the application's security controls and establish a foothold for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that only users with valid credentials can exploit this vulnerability, but the impact remains severe as it can affect any user who views the compromised content.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8912 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a potential entry point for broader compromise within the Synology environment. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that persists across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability's presence in Note Station specifically affects collaborative environments where users frequently share notes and commit messages, creating multiple opportunities for exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables both social engineering through malicious content injection and the execution of arbitrary commands within user browsers. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user creating a malicious commit message, which when viewed by other users triggers the XSS payload execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8912 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to version 2.5.1-0844 or later, which incorporates proper input sanitization and validation controls. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that filter out potentially malicious characters and patterns before processing user input. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, conducting regular security assessments of web applications, and establishing robust user access controls to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security patch management and application monitoring to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other components of the Synology DSM platform. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.