CVE-2019-17535 in Gila
Summary
by MITRE
Gila CMS through 1.11.4 allows blog-list.php XSS, in both the gila-blog and gila-mag themes, via the search parameter, a related issue to CVE-2019-9647.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17535 affects Gila CMS versions through 1.11.4 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the blog-list.php script within both the gila-blog and gila-mag themes. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data passed through the search parameter. The flaw manifests when malicious actors exploit the search functionality by injecting malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond simple data theft to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. The flaw occurs because the application does not properly escape or filter user input before rendering it in the web page context, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view the search results page. This particular weakness exists in the blog-list.php script which processes search queries and displays results, making it a prime target for exploitation since search functionality is commonly used and often not adequately protected against injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17535 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability affects both gila-blog and gila-mag themes, indicating a broader impact across the CMS's theme ecosystem and suggesting that the root cause lies in the core application logic rather than in specific theme implementations. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it could affect multiple installations simultaneously, especially those using the affected themes.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for valid accounts and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The attack surface is significant as search parameters are frequently accessed and often not properly sanitized in content management systems. Organizations using Gila CMS versions 1.11.4 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates. The recommended approach includes implementing proper content security policies, sanitizing all user inputs, and upgrading to patched versions of the CMS to eliminate this vector of attack and protect against potential session manipulation or data exfiltration attempts that could arise from successful exploitation of this XSS vulnerability.