CVE-2020-9008 in Learn
Summary
by MITRE
Stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Blackboard Learn/PeopleTool v9.1 allows users to inject arbitrary web script via the Tile widget in the People Tool profile editor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9008 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within Blackboard Learn/PeopleTool version 9.1, specifically affecting the People Tool profile editor functionality. This security weakness resides in the Tile widget component where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored and subsequently rendered back to other users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to strip or encode malicious script content entered by users, creating an environment where attackers can persistently inject harmful web scripts into the application's data store.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied data within the People Tool profile editor interface. When users create or modify profile information through the Tile widget, their input passes through a processing pipeline that lacks robust sanitization measures. This allows malicious actors to embed javascript code or other malicious web scripts within the tile content, which gets stored in the application's database. Subsequently, when other users access the profile containing the malicious content, the stored script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to educational institutions utilizing Blackboard Learn platforms, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive academic and personal data. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts remain active even after the initial injection, creating persistent threats that can affect multiple users over extended periods. The attack surface is particularly concerning in educational environments where users may have varying levels of technical sophistication and where the platform handles sensitive information including student records, grades, and personal details.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness involving the improper sanitization of user-supplied data, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for the initial compromise through malicious web content. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection, including the implementation of Content Security Policy headers, regular security code reviews, and user input sanitization. Additionally, the affected Blackboard Learn version should be updated to a patched release that addresses the vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied content within the People Tool profile editor functionality.