CVE-2021-36063 in Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2021
Adobe Connect version 11.2.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Reflected Cross-site Scripting vulnerability that could be abused by an attacker to inject malicious scripts into vulnerable form fields. Malicious JavaScript may be executed in a victim’s browser when they browse to the page containing the vulnerable field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2021
Adobe Connect versions 11.2.2 and earlier contain a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in web application input validation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting and specifically manifests as a reflected XSS flaw where malicious scripts can be injected into form fields and subsequently executed in victims' browsers. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back in HTTP responses, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit this weakness.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads that will be reflected back to users who click on the link. When victims navigate to the malicious page, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript code within the context of the vulnerable Adobe Connect application. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and manipulation of the application interface. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but rather reflected from the web application in response to the user's input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the application and potentially compromise entire user sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted functionality, and perform unauthorized actions within the Adobe Connect environment. This represents a significant threat to organizations that rely on Adobe Connect for collaborative meetings, training sessions, and virtual classrooms where sensitive information is frequently exchanged. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to proprietary content, meeting recordings, and user credentials.
Organizations should immediately update to Adobe Connect version 11.2.3 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches specifically addressing this reflected XSS flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures can help mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of web applications to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities and ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links, and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in web-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection layers against such attacks.