CVE-2020-29239 in Online Birth Certificate System Project
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2020
Online Birth Certificate System Project V 1.0 is affected by cross-site scripting (XSS). This vulnerability can result in an attacker injecting the XSS payload in the User Registration section. When an admin visits the View Detail of Application section from the admin panel, the attacker can able to steal the cookie according to the crafted payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2020
The Online Birth Certificate System Project version 1.0 presents a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises user session integrity and system security. This vulnerability resides within the user registration functionality where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts that persist in the system. The flaw allows attackers to execute unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant risk for sensitive data exposure and privilege escalation.
This XSS vulnerability operates through a specific attack vector involving the user registration process where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious script injection. When administrators navigate to the View Detail of Application section within the admin panel, the stored malicious payload executes in their browser context. The attack leverages the trust relationship between the web application and the administrator's browser, enabling session hijacking through cookie theft mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface where sensitive user data and system controls are managed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions and user information. The stolen cookies can be used to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining full administrative privileges within the system. This creates a severe risk for data integrity and confidentiality, as attackers can access sensitive birth certificate records and personal information of users who have submitted applications through the system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies throughout the application. The system requires proper sanitization of all user inputs, particularly in registration and data entry sections, to prevent script injection. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and using secure coding practices aligned with CWE-79 standards can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, the application should employ proper session management techniques including secure cookie attributes and regular session token rotation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following OWASP Top Ten security guidelines and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against client-side attacks.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for credential access through web application attacks. The exploitation requires minimal prerequisites as it targets a common input validation weakness that frequently occurs in web applications. The attack chain involves initial injection during user registration, persistence through stored data, and execution during administrative viewing of records. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods while continuously compromising system security. The vulnerability also demonstrates the need for regular security testing and code reviews to identify and remediate such weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.