CVE-2019-8335 in SchoolCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in SchoolCMS 2.3.1. There is an XSS vulnerability via index.php?a=Index&c=Channel&m=Home&id=[XSS].
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8335 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within SchoolCMS version 2.3.1 that exposes the application to potential client-side attacks. This issue manifests through the specific endpoint index.php?a=Index&c=Channel&m=Home&id=[XSS] where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in the web application's response. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to filter malicious script content submitted through the id parameter, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
This XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications. The flaw operates by leveraging the application's failure to implement proper output encoding or sanitization when processing the id parameter value. When a victim navigates to a page containing the malicious payload, the injected JavaScript code executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the core application functionality through the channel module's home page handler, making it accessible to various user roles within the school management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and compromise the entire school management system. An attacker could craft malicious links containing the XSS payload that, when clicked by administrators or other authenticated users, would execute commands with elevated privileges. This could result in unauthorized access to student records, grade modifications, user account manipulation, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive educational data and undermining the trust placed in the system by school administrators and users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8335 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters before processing. The application should implement context-specific output encoding, particularly when rendering values from the id parameter in HTML contexts. Additionally, developers should consider implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header to limit script execution sources and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, particularly focusing on the execution of malicious code through web interfaces. Organizations should ensure that all SchoolCMS installations are updated to patched versions that address this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation increases with the number of users accessing the system.