CVE-2019-15700 in Frappe
Summary
by MITRE
public/js/frappe/form/footer/timeline.js in Frappe Framework 12 through 12.0.8 does not escape HTML in the timeline and thus is affected by crafted "changed value of" text.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15700 resides within the Frappe Framework version 12 through 12.0.8, specifically in the public/js/frappe/form/footer/timeline.js file. This issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the framework's timeline functionality. The flaw manifests when the system processes user-generated content that describes changes made to form fields, particularly in the context of audit trails and version history tracking.
The technical root cause stems from the framework's failure to properly escape HTML characters when rendering timeline entries that contain user-provided text describing field modifications. This oversight creates an environment where malicious actors can inject crafted HTML or JavaScript code into the timeline display through carefully constructed "changed value of" text entries. When the timeline component renders these entries without proper sanitization, the injected code executes within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data exposure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for organizations utilizing Frappe Framework for business applications, particularly those handling sensitive data or requiring audit trails. An attacker could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of any user who views the affected timeline, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the application. The impact extends beyond simple XSS execution as it could enable attackers to manipulate audit records, compromise the integrity of change tracking mechanisms, and undermine the security posture of the entire application stack.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566, focusing on the initial access phase through malicious content delivery. Organizations using Frappe Framework versions 12 through 12.0.8 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation, output encoding, and proper HTML escaping for all user-generated content displayed in timeline components. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous HTML characters before rendering timeline entries, while also considering the implementation of content security policies to further restrict script execution within the application environment.