CVE-2021-20686 in Kagemai
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2021
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Kagemai 0.8.8 allows remote attackers to inject an arbitrary script via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2021
The CVE-2021-20686 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Kagemai version 0.8.8, a web-based application designed for managing and sharing documents. This vulnerability exists within the application's input validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary script code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to permit remote code execution without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the platform. The unspecified vectors indicate that the flaw may manifest across multiple input points within the application, potentially affecting various user-facing components including forms, search fields, or parameter handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code that gets processed and rendered by the vulnerable application without proper sanitization or encoding. This flaw directly violates the fundamental principle of secure web application development where all user-supplied data must be treated as untrusted and properly validated before being incorporated into dynamic content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can create persistent security weaknesses. The flaw operates at the application layer where user input is not adequately escaped or filtered, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed by other users who view the affected content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations using Kagemai 0.8.8 to significant risks including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. Attackers could leverage the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious scripts that persist across user sessions. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target network. This vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, making it a valuable vector for advanced persistent threats targeting web applications.
Organizations utilizing Kagemai 0.8.8 should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest available version of the application where the vulnerability has been patched. The patching process should involve thorough testing to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or data. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth measures that would mitigate similar vulnerabilities even if the primary patch is not immediately available. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious patterns in user behavior or unusual data flows that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust input validation practices throughout the application development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.