CVE-2018-9155 in Open-AudIT Professional
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Open-AudIT Professional 2.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted name of a component, as demonstrated by the Admin->Logs section (with a logs?logs.type= URI) and the Manage->Attributes section (via the "Name (display)" field to the attributes/create URI).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2025
The CVE-2018-9155 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Open-AudIT Professional version 2.1.1 that exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of user-supplied component names within the administrative interface, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by attackers without authentication. The flaw manifests in two primary attack vectors within the application's administrative sections, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core administrative functionality rather than isolated components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Open-AudIT application's web interface. When administrators or users interact with the Admin->Logs section through the logs?logs.type= URI parameter or the Manage->Attributes section via the "Name (display)" field to attributes/create URI, the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack since the malicious content is stored and then executed when other users view the affected pages, making it particularly insidious as the attack can propagate through the application's user base.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users. This can lead to complete compromise of the administrative interface, allowing attackers to modify system configurations, create new administrative accounts, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core administrative functions, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain full control over the Open-AudIT instance. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent user input from being directly rendered without proper sanitization.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the affected administrative sections. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all input fields, particularly those used for component names and display labels, combined with proper HTML encoding of output data to prevent script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and conduct thorough input validation at multiple layers including application-level filtering and database-level sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following ATT&CK framework guidance for web application security, specifically addressing techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation through administrative interfaces. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application, with particular attention to input handling in administrative sections where user-provided data is rendered in web contexts.