CVE-2019-19858 in Serpico
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Serpico (aka SimplE RePort wrIting and CollaboratiOn tool) 1.3.0. admin/add_user/UID allows stored XSS via the author parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19858 resides within Serpico version 1.3.0, a web-based reporting and collaboration tool designed for security professionals. This application facilitates the creation and sharing of security reports among team members while maintaining user management capabilities. The specific flaw manifests in the administrative user management functionality, particularly within the add_user/UID endpoint which serves as a critical interface for granting access privileges to new team members. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly process user-supplied data before storing it within the application's database.
The technical implementation of this stored cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags within the author parameter of the admin/add_user/UID endpoint. When this malformed data is submitted and subsequently stored in the database, it becomes persistent and executable whenever other users view the affected user records. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload is not reflected in the HTTP response but rather stored on the server and executed when legitimate users access the vulnerable page. This particular flaw demonstrates a classic failure in web application security where user input is directly embedded into the application's output without proper sanitization or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This presents a significant risk to the security posture of organizations relying on Serpico for their reporting activities, as compromised users could be redirected to malicious websites, have their session cookies stolen, or be subjected to further exploitation such as privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector can persist long after the initial compromise, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this vulnerability exists within the administrative user management interface, which typically requires elevated privileges and contains sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-19858 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper HTML encoding before storing it in the database, ensuring that any potentially malicious script content is neutralized. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Organizations should also consider implementing proper input validation that rejects or removes known dangerous characters and patterns from user submissions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application's codebase.