CVE-2019-14731 in ZenTao
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in ZenTao 11.5.1. There is an XSS (stored) vulnerability that leads to the capture of other people's cookies via the Rich Text Box.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14731 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within ZenTao version 11.5.1, a popular project management and bug tracking platform. This vulnerability resides in the Rich Text Box functionality, which allows users to input formatted content into the system. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist within the application's database and execute whenever legitimate users view the affected content. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability specifically targets the Rich Text Box component, which processes user input and displays it to other users, creating an ideal environment for persistent XSS attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the ZenTao application's content processing pipeline. When users enter data into the Rich Text Box, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that exploit the browser's trust in the application's content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it specifically enables cookie theft through the capture of session tokens, which are typically stored in the browser's cookie jar. This capability transforms a basic XSS vulnerability into a more severe threat that can compromise user authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-14731 is significant for organizations relying on ZenTao for project management and collaboration. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can steal session cookies from authenticated users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to their accounts and the sensitive data they can access within the application. This threat extends to administrative accounts, which could result in complete system compromise. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even users who have not interacted with the malicious content directly could be affected when they view pages containing the injected scripts. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but can compromise entire teams or organizations that depend on the platform for collaborative work. Organizations using ZenTao for managing sensitive project data, bug tracking, and team collaboration face potential data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14731 should include immediate patching of the ZenTao application to version 11.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being stored or executed within the application. Web Application Firewalls can provide additional protection layers by detecting and blocking suspicious payloads before they reach the application. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement proper user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious links or content within collaborative platforms, as social engineering remains a common attack vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities.