CVE-2019-15602 in fileview package
Summary
by MITRE
The fileview package v0.1.6 has inadequate output encoding and escaping, which leads to a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in files it serves.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15602 resides within the fileview package version 0.1.6, a component commonly used for serving files within web applications. This particular package demonstrates a critical flaw in its handling of output encoding and escaping mechanisms, creating an environment where malicious script code can be persistently stored and subsequently executed within user browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the package processes and serves files that contain unescaped or improperly encoded content, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that remain stored within the application's file system or database.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities resulting from inadequate output encoding and escaping. This weakness enables attackers to perform stored XSS attacks by injecting malicious scripts into files that are later served to other users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied content is processed and rendered without proper sanitization, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users who access the compromised files. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once malicious code is injected, it remains active until manually removed, potentially affecting all users who encounter the compromised content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to web applications utilizing the fileview package, particularly those that allow user uploads or content management. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as CSRF exploitation or privilege escalation within the application context. Organizations relying on this package for file serving functionality face potential compromise of their entire web application ecosystem, especially when the affected files are accessible to authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15602 should prioritize immediate remediation through package updates to versions that properly implement output encoding and escaping mechanisms. Organizations must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances where the affected package is deployed and ensure proper input validation and output encoding are implemented at all levels of the application stack. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policies to limit script execution, regular scanning for malicious content, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied content before storage. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect and prevent unauthorized content injection attempts, while adherence to OWASP secure coding practices and regular security testing can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future application development cycles. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that all file serving operations properly escape and encode output to prevent XSS exploitation vectors.