CVE-2020-8542 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
OX App Suite through 7.10.3 allows XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8542 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within OX App Suite version 7.10.3 and earlier releases. This security weakness manifests in the application's handling of user input within web interfaces, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security flaws that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the OX App Suite web interface components. When users submit data through various application forms or interfaces, the system fails to properly sanitize or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to embed malicious scripts within user-generated content or URL parameters that get executed in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw exists in the application's rendering pipeline where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without appropriate security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject additional malicious code that persists within the application environment. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected OX App Suite versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the application simultaneously. The attack surface is broad as the XSS can occur through various input points including email content, calendar entries, and user profile fields.
Organizations utilizing OX App Suite should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. The application should be updated to version 7.10.4 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security controls should include regular input validation checks, implementation of secure coding practices, and comprehensive testing of user input handling. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and could be leveraged by threat actors following ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection attempts to detect potential exploitation attempts.