CVE-2021-28007 in Web Based Quiz System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2021
Web Based Quiz System 1.0 is affected by cross-site scripting (XSS) in register.php through the name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2021
The Web Based Quiz System version 1.0 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-28007 that resides within the register.php script. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes the name parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web application's response. The flaw exists in the application's user registration functionality where user-provided name data is directly incorporated into the HTML output without proper sanitization mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation within the application's environment.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform sophisticated attacks against the web application's user base. An attacker could craft malicious name inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable register.php script, would execute scripts in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. This could enable the attacker to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious content that persists within the application's user interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in a quiz system context since it could affect multiple users registering simultaneously, amplifying the potential attack surface. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability could be exploited to establish persistent access through session manipulation, while T1203 covers the potential for credential theft through session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-28007 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the register.php script. The application must sanitize all user inputs, particularly the name parameter, by implementing strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and other HTML entities. Additionally, the application should employ proper output encoding techniques when displaying user-provided content, ensuring that any special characters are properly escaped before rendering in the HTML context. The recommended approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, while also establishing a robust input sanitization layer that filters out malicious payloads. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the application to a version that addresses this vulnerability, and comprehensive code reviews should be conducted to identify similar XSS vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Organizations should also implement automated security scanning tools to detect similar issues in other web applications and establish secure coding practices that prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.