CVE-2019-19851 in FreePBX
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS Injection vulnerability exists in Sangoma FreePBX and PBXact 13, 14, and 15 within the Debug/Test page of the Superfecta module at the admin/config.php?display=superfecta URI. This affects Superfecta through 13.0.4.7, 14.x through 14.0.24, and 15.x through 15.0.2.20.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2020
This cross-site scripting vulnerability resides within the Superfecta module of Sangoma FreePBX and PBXact platforms, specifically targeting the debug/test page accessible through the admin/config.php?display=superfecta URI. The flaw represents a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, including Superfecta 13.0.4.7, 14.0.24, and 15.0.2.20, indicating this issue has persisted across several major releases and suggests a systemic problem in how the module handles user input validation. The attack vector exploits the administrative interface, which significantly amplifies the potential impact since successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of an authenticated administrator session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient output encoding and input validation mechanisms within the Superfecta module's configuration page. When administrators navigate to the debug/test functionality, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize parameters passed through the URI, allowing malicious payloads to be executed in the browser context of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture that violates fundamental web security principles. The vulnerability's location within the administrative configuration interface creates a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive system information, or manipulate the PBX configuration settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify PBX configuration parameters, or even inject backdoors into the system. The fact that this affects multiple versions of the software suggests that organizations running these platforms are exposed to significant risk, particularly given that the vulnerability exists in what is essentially a diagnostic or testing interface that should not pose elevated security risks. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which covers data from information repositories, as it allows unauthorized access to potentially sensitive configuration data and system information through the compromised administrative interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching of affected systems, as Sangoma has released updates addressing this specific issue in newer versions of the Superfecta module. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and ensure that only authorized personnel can reach the vulnerable debug/test page. Input validation and output encoding measures should be strengthened throughout the application, with particular attention to how parameters are handled in administrative interfaces. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to administrative pages, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using proper input sanitization techniques can help prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, as this vulnerability represents a failure in the application's defense-in-depth strategy and highlights the need for comprehensive security measures across all application components.