CVE-2019-7325 in ZoneMinder
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) exists in ZoneMinder through 1.32.3, as multiple views under web/skins/classic/views insecurely utilize $_REQUEST['PHP_SELF'], without applying any proper filtration.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7325 represents a critical reflected cross site scripting flaw within ZoneMinder version 1.32.3 and earlier. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input in multiple web views, specifically those located under the web/skins/classic/views directory. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes the $_REQUEST['PHP_SELF'] parameter without implementing adequate input validation or output encoding measures, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the insecure handling of the PHP_SELF server variable, which contains the path of the current script. When ZoneMinder's classic skin views process this parameter directly without sanitization, it creates a reflected XSS condition where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the application does not properly escape or filter the user-supplied input before incorporating it into web page responses, allowing attackers to craft URLs containing malicious scripts that execute when victims view the affected pages.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must convince victims to click on a specially crafted link containing the malicious payload, making this attack vector particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when users are tricked into visiting compromised administrative interfaces. The vulnerability affects the classic skin interface, which is commonly used for monitoring and managing security camera systems, potentially exposing organizations to unauthorized access and data breaches.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as attackers could potentially extract sensitive monitoring data through session manipulation. Organizations using ZoneMinder should immediately implement input validation and output encoding measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, utilizing Content Security Policy headers, and applying input validation on the PHP_SELF parameter to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, upgrading to ZoneMinder versions beyond 1.32.3 where this vulnerability has been addressed is essential for maintaining security posture.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in web applications, particularly when handling user input that may be reflected back to browsers. The flaw represents a common security misconfiguration where developers fail to consider the potential for malicious input injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive security training and code review processes. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise entire security monitoring systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on ZoneMinder for critical security infrastructure monitoring.