CVE-2019-5888 in Geocall
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple XSS vulnerabilities were discovered in OverIT Geocall 6.3 before build 2:346977.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2023
The CVE-2019-5888 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting OverIT Geocall 6.3 prior to build 2:346977, exposing organizations to significant security risks in their location-based communication systems. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the system. The affected version of Geocall 6.3 was designed for enterprise location tracking and communication services, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on geolocation data for operational purposes. The vulnerability was identified through comprehensive security testing and represents a classic example of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves multiple attack vectors where user-controllable input parameters fail to undergo proper validation before being rendered in web pages. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by submitting malicious payloads through various input fields within the application's interface, including but not limited to user names, location data, or communication parameters. When the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization, the malicious scripts become executable within the context of other users' browsers. This flaw operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data. The vulnerability manifests as persistent XSS when the malicious code is stored and later executed by other users, or as reflected XSS when the malicious script is immediately reflected back to the user's browser.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5888 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive location data, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. Organizations using OverIT Geocall for critical infrastructure monitoring, fleet management, or emergency response services face heightened risks, as location-based information could be manipulated or exfiltrated. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially allowing them to access session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect users to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with attack techniques described in the attack tree framework under the MITRE ATT&CK methodology, specifically targeting the initial access and execution phases where adversaries establish footholds through web-based attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for build 2:346977 or higher, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all user-controllable parameters. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and establishing robust input sanitization routines. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious payloads, while conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive operational data in enterprise environments. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of similar vulnerabilities across their IT infrastructure.