CVE-2019-15484 in Bolt
Summary
by MITRE
Bolt before 3.6.10 has XSS via an image's alt or title field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
Bolt CMS is a content management system that allows users to manage web content through a web interface. The vulnerability CVE-2019-15484 affects versions prior to 3.6.10 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited through image metadata fields. This issue specifically targets the alt and title attributes of images uploaded to the system, which are commonly used to provide accessibility information and tooltip text for images. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization of user-provided data in these metadata fields.
The technical flaw occurs when user-supplied content is stored in the database without proper sanitization and subsequently rendered in web pages without adequate escaping mechanisms. When an attacker uploads an image with malicious JavaScript code embedded in the alt or title field, this code can be executed in the context of other users' browsers when the image is displayed. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation of the affected system. An attacker could craft malicious image files with embedded scripts that execute when users view the image in the Bolt CMS admin interface or on publicly accessible website pages. This could result in unauthorized access to administrative functions, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects both administrators and regular users who may encounter the malicious content while browsing the CMS or website content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15484 include immediate upgrade to Bolt CMS version 3.6.10 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation for all user-supplied data, output encoding for dynamic content, and regular security auditing of uploaded files. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it allows attackers to gain access to potentially sensitive data through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase and third-party components.