CVE-2020-35986 in Rukovoditel
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2021
A stored cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the 'Users Access Groups' feature of Rukovoditel 2.7.2 allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload entered into the 'Name' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2020-35986 represents a critical stored cross site scripting flaw within the Rukovoditel 2.7.2 web application platform. This issue specifically affects the 'Users Access Groups' functionality, where authenticated users can manipulate the system through a crafted payload inserted into the 'Name' parameter field. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross site scripting as the failure to properly neutralize user input data when it is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that adversaries must first gain legitimate user credentials or exploit another vulnerability to obtain access to the system before executing this specific XSS payload.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the application's user access group management module. When administrators or authorized users create or modify access groups, the system fails to properly sanitize the 'Name' parameter before storing and subsequently rendering it in web interfaces. This creates a persistent XSS condition where malicious scripts can be stored in the application database and executed whenever other users view the affected access group listings. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defense in depth principles where input sanitization should occur at multiple layers of the application stack according to security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract confidential data from the application. Given that Rukovoditel is typically used for project management and collaboration, the compromised access groups could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the system, potentially allowing them to manipulate project data, access restricted resources, or escalate their privileges further. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where access groups often contain sensitive permission configurations and administrative controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-35986 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected application modules. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses this vulnerability, as the remediation involves proper sanitization of user inputs before storage and appropriate HTML escaping when rendering user-supplied data. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conducting regular security code reviews focusing on user input handling, and establishing proper access controls to limit the impact of compromised accounts. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and users should emphasize the importance of monitoring access group configurations and reporting suspicious activities. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege, where input validation should occur at multiple levels of the application architecture to prevent similar issues from occurring in other modules. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their application portfolio.