CVE-2019-17203 in TeamPass
Summary
by MITRE
TeamPass 2.1.27.36 allows Stored XSS at the Search page by setting a crafted password for an item in any folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
TeamPass version 2.1.27.36 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that manifests at the search page functionality when processing crafted password values. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the application's password handling mechanism, specifically affecting how the system processes and displays password data during search operations. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users who view the compromised password entries. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS issue under CWE-79 which represents one of the most critical web application security weaknesses. Attackers can exploit this by creating or modifying password entries with malicious script payloads in the password field, which then get stored in the database and executed when other users search for or view these items. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under T1566.001, specifically targeting web applications through input validation bypass methods. This vulnerability poses significant operational risks as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation attacks. When users search for items containing the malicious password, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the victims. The impact is particularly severe in collaborative environments where multiple users access shared password databases, as a single compromised entry can affect numerous users. The vulnerability affects the search functionality by failing to properly escape or sanitize the password field content before rendering it in the user interface, creating an attack surface where persistent malicious code can be executed across different user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as attackers only need to have the ability to modify password entries within the TeamPass system. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate search functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data during the password storage process, where the application fails to properly encode or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript. This allows attackers to inject script tags or other malicious code that executes when the compromised password is displayed during search operations. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the database and can affect multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interaction with crafted URLs. Security controls such as content security policies and proper input validation should have prevented this vulnerability, but the lack of adequate sanitization mechanisms allowed the malicious code to remain undetected. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including CSRF exploitation and data exfiltration. Organizations using TeamPass should consider implementing strict input validation policies, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for this stored XSS vulnerability in TeamPass 2.1.27.36 should include immediate patching of the application to the latest stable version that addresses this specific security flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious code injection at all data entry points. The application should employ proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering it in web interfaces, particularly in password fields and search results. Network security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script patterns in HTTP requests. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. User access controls should be strictly enforced to limit the ability to modify password entries to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface. The implementation of proper content security policies can help prevent script execution even if vulnerabilities exist in other areas of the application. Security awareness training for users can help identify potential social engineering attacks that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing database-level input validation and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent malicious data injection attempts. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-79 emphasizes the need for comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies that address multiple layers of the application architecture. Regular updates and security patches should be implemented as part of the organization's security maintenance procedures to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework's categorization of this vulnerability under code injection techniques highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation and sanitization across all web application components to prevent similar issues from occurring in other parts of the system.