CVE-2021-43436 in iResturant
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
MartDevelopers Inc iResturant v1.0 allows Stored XSS by placing a payload in the username field during a login attempt. When an administrator looks at the log of failed logins, the XSS payload will be executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-43436 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the iResturant v1.0 web application developed by MartDevelopers Inc. This security weakness resides in the application's authentication logging mechanism where user-supplied input is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being stored and subsequently displayed to administrators. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the username field during login attempts, which are then logged in the system's failed login records. When system administrators view these login logs to monitor security events or investigate failed access attempts, the stored malicious script executes within their browser context, potentially compromising their sessions and system access.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS attack where malicious scripts are permanently stored on the server and executed when accessed by other users. The attack vector exploits the application's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for user-provided data that is subsequently rendered in administrative interfaces. The flaw demonstrates a critical breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it allows attackers to inject malicious code that persists beyond the initial injection point and executes in the context of privileged users who view the vulnerable data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface where sensitive monitoring and security functions occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to compromise administrator sessions and potentially gain full system control. When administrators view the failed login logs, their browsers execute the stored malicious payloads, which could redirect them to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or execute additional exploits to compromise their systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators regularly review login logs. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1566.001 which involves credential access through phishing or social engineering, as the compromised administrator session could lead to further lateral movement and privilege escalation within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security flaw and implement comprehensive input sanitization practices. Organizations should immediately implement proper output encoding and input validation for all user-supplied data that is stored and later displayed, particularly in administrative interfaces. The application should sanitize all user input including usernames before storing it in logs and ensure that any stored data is properly escaped when rendered in HTML contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if the vulnerability is not fully patched. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar issues, with the vulnerability serving as a reminder of the importance of the principle of least privilege and proper data sanitization in web applications. The fix should include implementing proper HTML escaping for all stored data that is displayed in administrative interfaces and ensuring that the application's logging mechanism does not inadvertently execute user-supplied content.