CVE-2021-24283 in v
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2021
The tab GET parameter of the settings page is not sanitised or escaped when being output back in an HTML attribute, leading to a reflected XSS issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24283 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the tab parameter handling of a web application's settings page. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization practices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the tab GET parameter is processed without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms before being rendered back into HTML attributes, making it susceptible to exploitation through crafted malicious URLs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a failure in the application's data flow processing where user-supplied input from the tab parameter is directly incorporated into HTML output without appropriate security measures. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be crafted to be included in a URL that, when visited by a victim, causes the application to reflect the malicious script back to the user's browser. This creates an attack vector that can be exploited through social engineering techniques, phishing campaigns, or by compromising legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. The reflected XSS nature makes this particularly dangerous because it requires no persistent storage of malicious code, allowing attackers to exploit the vulnerability through simple URL manipulation. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007, this vulnerability enables adversary techniques involving script injection and command execution within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and can potentially compromise the confidentiality and availability of sensitive information processed through the affected settings page.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-24283 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters including the tab GET parameter before incorporating them into HTML attributes or output contexts. This can be achieved through proper HTML escaping functions, input validation libraries, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The application should also implement proper parameter validation to ensure that only expected tab values are accepted, rejecting any malformed or unexpected inputs. Additionally, regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar patterns and prevent future occurrences of such vulnerabilities. The implementation of a Web Application Firewall can provide additional protection layers, while comprehensive logging and monitoring of suspicious parameter usage can aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts.