CVE-2019-12964 in LiveZilla Server
Summary
by MITRE
LiveZilla Server before 8.0.1.1 is vulnerable to XSS in the ticket.php Subject.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12964 affects LiveZilla Server versions prior to 8.0.1.1 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability within the ticket.php script's subject field. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the subject parameter of support tickets, creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on this help desk software. The vulnerability specifically impacts the server-side processing of user input where the subject field is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. Such a weakness enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session when they view the affected ticket.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the LiveZilla ticket handling system. When users submit support tickets through the web interface, the subject field value is stored in the database and subsequently retrieved for display without proper sanitization. This creates an environment where malicious payloads can be embedded within the subject text, particularly when the application fails to implement proper HTML escaping or content security policies. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where the application generates dynamic content that includes untrusted data without proper validation or encoding. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious subject lines containing script tags or other payload delivery mechanisms that execute when other users view the ticket information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. When an authenticated user views a ticket containing malicious JavaScript code, the script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to access session cookies, modify ticket data, or perform unauthorized actions within the application. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on ticket-based support systems for customer service, as it can be exploited to compromise the entire support infrastructure. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only that an attacker submit a malicious subject line through the normal ticket submission process, making it accessible to threat actors with basic knowledge of web application exploitation techniques. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks through malicious content delivery, specifically targeting the web application interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12964 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the LiveZilla application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to LiveZilla Server version 8.0.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous characters before processing user-submitted data. The application should enforce strict content type validation and implement proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content rendered to users. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be configured to prevent unauthorized script execution, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Network-level protections including web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while user education regarding suspicious ticket content can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering approaches.