CVE-2019-12932 in SeedDMS
Summary
by MITRE
A stored XSS vulnerability was found in SeedDMS 5.1.11 due to poorly escaping the search result in the autocomplete search form placed in the header of out/out.Viewfolder.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-12932 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw in SeedDMS version 5.1.11 that stems from inadequate input sanitization within the application's search functionality. This issue specifically affects the autocomplete search form component located in the header section of the out/out.Viewfolder.php file, creating a persistent security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's search results. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in output encoding and input validation that directly violates fundamental web application security principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious script code is stored within the application's database and subsequently retrieved during search operations. The autocomplete feature fails to properly escape or sanitize the search results before rendering them in the HTML context, allowing attackers to inject JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious input is submitted and processed, it remains persistent and affects all users who interact with the affected search functionality. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines the common weakness of cross-site scripting due to improper output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the application's context. An attacker could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even execute administrative commands if the application lacks proper access controls. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the application's legitimate search functionality, making it difficult for security monitoring systems to distinguish between benign and malicious requests. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering through phishing and malicious file delivery, as the attack could be initiated through crafted search terms that appear legitimate to end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12932 should prioritize immediate patching of the SeedDMS application to version 5.1.12 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application, particularly for all user-supplied content that may be displayed in web interfaces. The fix should include proper HTML entity encoding of all dynamic content before rendering, implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and establishing robust sanitization routines for all search and input fields. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on output encoding practices, implement automated security scanning tools to detect similar vulnerabilities, and establish secure coding guidelines that prevent the introduction of similar flaws in future development cycles. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats in web applications.