CVE-2021-44544 in DIAEnergie
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
DIAEnergie Version 1.7.5 and prior is vulnerable to multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities when arbitrary code is injected into the parameter “name” of the script “HandlerEnergyType.ashx”.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44544 affects DIAEnergie version 1.7.5 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from improper input validation within the application's web interface. This flaw specifically manifests when malicious code is injected into the "name" parameter of the HandlerEnergyType.ashx script, which serves as a server-side handler for energy type data processing. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected parameter exists within the application's energy type management functionality, suggesting that legitimate users with appropriate privileges may be exploited through this vector.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where malicious input is crafted to inject script code into the application's response. When the HandlerEnergyType.ashx script processes the "name" parameter without proper sanitization or encoding, it directly incorporates the user-supplied value into the HTML output, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. This vulnerability maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') and represents a stored XSS variant since the malicious code persists within the application's data storage and executes each time the affected page is loaded. The attack requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability exists in the application's processing of user input, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legitimate users interact with the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the victim's browser context. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious websites, modify application content, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability's presence in the energy type management functionality suggests potential implications for industrial control systems or energy management platforms where such applications may be deployed. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers who can gain access to legitimate user accounts could exploit this vulnerability to perform persistent attacks against other users within the same application environment. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the application's interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44544 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the "name" parameter in HandlerEnergyType.ashx, by implementing proper HTML encoding before rendering any user-provided content. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish a robust input validation framework that rejects or removes potentially malicious characters from user input. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access controls and implement the principle of least privilege to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, particularly those handling user input in web applications. The fix should also include implementing proper error handling and logging mechanisms to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest version of DIAEnergie where this vulnerability has been addressed, as vendor-provided patches typically include comprehensive fixes for the identified XSS vulnerabilities.