CVE-2019-9758 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in LabKey Server 19.1.0. The display name of a user is vulnerable to stored XSS that can execute on administrators from security/permissions.view, security/addUsers.view, or wiki/Administration/page.view in the admin panel, leading to privilege escalation.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9758 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within LabKey Server version 19.1.0 that enables unauthorized privilege escalation through manipulation of user display names. This security weakness exists in the web application's user management and administrative interfaces, specifically affecting the security/permissions.view, security/addUsers.view, and wiki/Administration/page.view endpoints. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into user display names that persist in the application's database and execute automatically when administrators view these user records in the administrative panels.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of user input in the display name field, which serves as the primary attack vector for stored XSS. When administrators navigate to the affected administrative views, the malicious script embedded within the display name executes within the context of their privileged browser sessions. This creates a direct pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over the LabKey Server instance. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between administrators and the application, allowing malicious code execution in the highest privilege context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations relying on LabKey Server for research data management, particularly in academic and pharmaceutical environments where the platform handles sensitive scientific data. The attack requires minimal privileges to initiate, as attackers only need to create or modify user accounts with malicious display names, but the potential consequences are severe. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical research operations. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, continuously threatening administrators who view affected user records.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in fields that appear in administrative interfaces. The recommended approach involves enforcing strict sanitization of display names and other user-facing fields, implementing content security policies, and restricting administrative access to trusted networks. Additionally, regular security audits of user management interfaces and monitoring for suspicious user account modifications should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations using LabKey Server should prioritize upgrading to versions that address this vulnerability, as the stored XSS nature makes it particularly challenging to remediate without proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms in place.