CVE-2019-16717 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
OX App Suite through 7.10.2 has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16717 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in OX App Suite versions up to 7.10.2. This security weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating an avenue for unauthorized code execution. The flaw specifically affects the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft specially crafted payloads to target unsuspecting users.
Technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when user input is improperly processed and displayed in web responses without adequate security measures. The vulnerability manifests when OX App Suite fails to properly escape or encode special characters in user-provided content before rendering it in HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browser context of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack typically follows the pattern where an attacker submits malicious input through forms or API endpoints, which is then stored and later displayed without proper sanitization, enabling script execution in victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify application content, or even execute arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. The severity is particularly concerning given that OX App Suite is a comprehensive email and collaboration platform, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise sensitive corporate communications, personal data, and business-critical information. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected versions regardless of their privilege level, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on this platform for business operations. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', this vulnerability enables adversaries to leverage JavaScript execution capabilities within the victim's browser environment, potentially leading to full compromise of user sessions and data access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16717 involve immediate remediation through software updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, alongside implementation of comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized and encoded before being rendered in web pages, utilizing established security practices such as context-aware encoding and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls, implementing strict input validation controls, and conducting regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all users are promptly updated to patched versions of the OX App Suite application. Additionally, user education regarding phishing and social engineering attacks that may attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities remains crucial in maintaining overall security posture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security controls and application-level protections against common web vulnerabilities.