CVE-2019-25096 in eXtplorer
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2023
A vulnerability has been found in soerennb eXtplorer up to 2.1.12 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 2.1.13 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is b8fcb888f4ff5e171c16797a4b075c6c6f50bf46. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-217435.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25096 affects the soerennb eXtplorer file management application version 2.1.12 and earlier, representing a significant security risk that has been classified as problematic by security researchers. This vulnerability exists within an unknown functionality of the application, making it particularly concerning as the exact code path may not be immediately apparent to security teams. The flaw manifests as a cross site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system or network to launch attacks, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks including those that leverage cross site scripting to compromise user systems. The vulnerability's classification as a cross site scripting issue places it within CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. This weakness occurs when web applications fail to properly validate or escape user input before rendering it in web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be initiated through web-based interactions without requiring additional privileges or complex attack chains, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
The exploitation of this vulnerability in soerennb eXtplorer creates serious operational risks for organizations that rely on the application for file management and collaboration. When successfully exploited, the cross site scripting attack can lead to session hijacking, where attackers steal authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users to access sensitive files and system resources. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could potentially modify file contents, execute unauthorized operations, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's presence in a file management application is particularly concerning since such systems often contain sensitive organizational data, including confidential documents, source code repositories, and business-critical information. The remote nature of the attack means that even organizations with strong network security controls may be vulnerable, as the attack can be launched from anywhere on the internet. Organizations using this application may face compliance violations if sensitive data is compromised, particularly in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, or government sectors where data protection requirements are stringent.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to version 2.1.13, which contains the necessary patch identified by the commit hash b8fcb888f4ff5e171c16797a4b075c6c6f50bf46. This upgrade represents the most effective immediate mitigation strategy, as it directly addresses the root cause of the cross site scripting vulnerability. The patch likely implements proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being executed in user browsers. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of the upgraded version to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or integrations. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring and detection capabilities to identify any attempts to exploit this vulnerability before the patch is applied, as the vulnerability may be actively targeted in the wild. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing of the application environment to ensure that no other vulnerabilities exist within the same application or related systems. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls or other protective measures as additional layers of defense, particularly if immediate patching is not feasible. The vulnerability's identification in the VDB-217435 database indicates that it has been cataloged by security vendors, suggesting that automated scanning tools may already be capable of detecting systems running vulnerable versions of the application. This makes the vulnerability particularly urgent to address as it may already be part of active attack toolkits used by threat actors in the cybersecurity landscape.