CVE-2021-23925 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2021
An issue was discovered in Devolutions Server before 2020.3. There is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in entries of type Document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-23925 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Devolutions Server versions prior to 2020.3, specifically affecting entries of the Document type. This security weakness exposes the system to potential exploitation by malicious actors who can inject malicious scripts into web interfaces that process document entries. The flaw resides in the server's handling of user-supplied input within document-related functionalities, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of victim browsers. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security flaw that occurs when applications fail to properly validate or escape user input before rendering it in web pages.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the document entry processing modules of Devolutions Server. When users create or modify document entries, the system does not adequately sanitize the input data to prevent script injection attempts. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed and displayed within the web interface, execute in the browser context of legitimate users who view these documents. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Document type entries, suggesting that the flaw is localized to how the application handles document-specific data rather than affecting all entry types. This targeted nature of the vulnerability indicates that the sanitization controls are not uniformly applied across all data entry points within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw could potentially escalate privileges within the Devolutions Server environment, especially if the application handles sensitive authentication or authorization data within document entries. The compromised user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information stored within the server, including sensitive documents, configuration data, or user credentials. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, such as credential theft through browser-based attacks or as a vector for delivering malware to connected endpoints. The presence of this vulnerability in a server environment suggests potential exposure to broader network compromise scenarios, particularly in enterprise settings where Devolutions Server might be used for credential management or remote access solutions.
Organizations utilizing Devolutions Server should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official security patch released in version 2020.3, which addresses the XSS vulnerability in document entries. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls specifically designed to prevent script injection attempts. Security teams should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to ensure that all data entry points within the application are properly sanitized and that input validation mechanisms are consistently applied. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known security flaws. Organizations should consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar XSS patterns in their web applications and establish security awareness training for developers to prevent such flaws from being introduced during the software development lifecycle. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks and the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques.