CVE-2018-9147 in Gespage
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in version 7.5.7 of Gespage software allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the email, passwd, and repasswd parameters to webapp/users/user_reg.jsp.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9147 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Gespage version 7.5.7 software. This vulnerability resides in the web application's user registration component, specifically in the webapp/users/user_reg.jsp file. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or session hijacking. The vulnerability affects three primary input parameters: email, passwd, and repasswd, which are processed during user registration procedures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into web responses. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the email, passwd, or repasswd parameters, the application does not adequately filter or encode these inputs, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Gespage software. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, deface web pages, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated users. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially compromising the entire user registration and authentication system.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is relatively narrow but impactful, as it specifically targets the user registration endpoint. However, the consequences can be severe given that user registration is a fundamental function of most web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.007 technique related to script-based execution and T1566.001 for spearphishing with attachments, as attackers might use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised user accounts. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments to address this class of vulnerabilities effectively. The remediation approach should include immediate patching of the software to version 7.5.8 or later, along with implementing web application firewalls and security headers to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.