CVE-2019-15782 in WebTorrent
Summary
by MITRE
WebTorrent before 0.107.6 allows XSS in the HTTP server via a title or file name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15782 affects WebTorrent versions prior to 01076 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability within the HTTP server component. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web interface through carefully crafted title or file name parameters, potentially compromising user sessions and data confidentiality. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the torrent client's web server implementation, which directly processes user-supplied data without proper encoding or filtering.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when WebTorrent's HTTP server receives torrent files or metadata containing malicious script content within title or filename fields. These unescaped characters are subsequently rendered in the web interface without proper HTML encoding, creating an XSS attack vector that allows remote code execution or session hijacking. The vulnerability specifically impacts the client-side rendering of torrent metadata, where user-provided content is directly embedded into HTML documents without sanitization. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical security weakness involving the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-15782 extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking attacks, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. When users browse torrent files through the WebTorrent interface, they become exposed to potential exploitation if the torrent contains maliciously crafted metadata. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users frequently download torrents from untrusted sources, as it requires no additional privileges or complex attack vectors. The attack surface includes web browsers that render the torrent metadata, potentially affecting all supported platforms where WebTorrent operates.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected WebTorrent installations to version 0.107.6 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement additional protective measures such as network-based filtering to prevent access to known malicious torrent sources and establish strict content validation policies for torrent metadata. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider monitoring web server logs for suspicious requests containing encoded script payloads and implement automated scanning tools to identify vulnerable installations within their infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation for credential access through web application vulnerabilities.