CVE-2019-10779 in stroom-app
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of stroom:stroom-app before 5.5.12 and all versions of the 6.0.0 branch before 6.0.25 are affected by Cross-site Scripting. An attacker website is able to load the Stroom UI into a hidden iframe. Using that iframe, the attacker site can issue commands to the Stroom UI via an XSS vulnerability to take full control of the Stroom UI on behalf of the logged-in user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10779 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Stroom applications across multiple version branches. This vulnerability exists in stroom-app versions prior to 5.5.12 and the 6.0.0 branch before 6.0.25, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these software components. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Stroom user interface, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker constructing a malicious website that loads the Stroom user interface within a hidden iframe element. This technique leverages the browser's same-origin policy limitations and the trust relationship between the Stroom application and its authenticated users. Once the malicious iframe is established, attackers can issue commands directly to the Stroom UI through the XSS vector, effectively hijacking the user's session and gaining full administrative control over the application interface. This type of attack falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables complete compromise of the Stroom application environment. An attacker with access to the Stroom UI can manipulate data flows, modify user permissions, access sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The attack vector specifically targets authenticated users, meaning that the vulnerability requires a valid login session to exploit, but once exploited, provides the attacker with the same privileges as the legitimate user. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where Stroom is used for processing sensitive data or managing critical information flows.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended security patches, upgrading to stroom-app version 5.5.12 or 6.0.25 respectively. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to mitigate potential exploitation attempts, though these serve as defensive measures rather than complete fixes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish monitoring procedures for suspicious iframe loading patterns within their network traffic.