CVE-2019-10049 in Pydio
Summary
by MITRE
It is possible for an attacker with regular user access to the web application of Pydio through 8.2.2 to trick an administrator user into opening a link shared through the application, that in turn opens a shared file that contains JavaScript code (that is executed in the context of the victim user to obtain sensitive information such as session identifiers and perform actions on behalf of him/her).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2023
This vulnerability exists within the Pydio web application version 8.2.2 and represents a classic cross-site scripting attack vector that leverages social engineering techniques to compromise administrator accounts. The flaw allows a regular user to craft malicious links that, when clicked by an administrator, execute JavaScript code within the administrator's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for spearphishing with a link. The attack exploits the application's failure to properly sanitize user input when generating shared file links, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and executed without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a regular user creates a shared file link that contains malicious JavaScript code. When an administrator clicks on this link, the code executes in the administrator's browser session, effectively hijacking the administrator's privileges. The malicious script can capture session identifiers, cookies, and other sensitive authentication tokens that allow the attacker to impersonate the administrator user. This process bypasses normal access controls since the administrator is the legitimate user who initiates the malicious action. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to escalate privileges from regular user to administrator level through social engineering rather than direct exploitation of application flaws. An attacker can craft convincing phishing links that appear legitimate within the application context, making detection more difficult. Once executed, the malicious JavaScript can perform actions such as reading sensitive data, modifying files, creating new user accounts, or accessing restricted administrative functions. This represents a critical security gap that undermines the entire authentication and authorization framework of the application, as it allows unauthorized access to administrative capabilities through user interaction rather than direct system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-provided content before it is rendered in the browser context, particularly in shared file link generation. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and employ proper session management practices including secure cookie attributes and session timeout mechanisms. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The application should also implement user awareness training to help administrators recognize potentially malicious links, while maintaining detailed audit logs of shared file activities to detect suspicious behavior patterns. This vulnerability highlights the importance of defense-in-depth strategies and the critical need for proper web application security practices to prevent social engineering attacks from escalating into full system compromises.