CVE-2021-44565 in RosarioSIS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
A Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in RosarioSIS before 7.6.1 via the xss_clean function in classes/Security.php, which allows remote malicious users to inject arbitrary JavaScript or HTML. An example of affected components are all Markdown input fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2021-44565 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw in RosarioSIS version 7.6.0 and earlier, specifically within the xss_clean function located in the classes/Security.php file. This weakness allows remote attackers to inject malicious JavaScript or HTML code through Markdown input fields, creating a persistent security risk for all users of the educational management system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape user-provided content before rendering it in web pages. Security researchers identified that the xss_clean function does not adequately handle certain character sequences or encoding methods that could bypass traditional sanitization checks, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious payloads is processed through the affected Markdown fields without proper validation. The xss_clean function in Security.php appears to rely on basic string filtering approaches that can be circumvented by attackers using various encoding techniques or by exploiting edge cases in the sanitization logic. This flaw particularly affects web applications that process user-generated content and render it directly in browser contexts, making the vulnerability highly exploitable in environments where users can submit data through forms or other input mechanisms. The impact is amplified when considering that Markdown fields often allow rich text input, which increases the attack surface for XSS exploitation.
Operational impact of CVE-2021-44565 extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive educational data, or manipulate the application's functionality. The vulnerability affects all Markdown input fields within RosarioSIS, which are commonly used for student records, grade entries, and other educational content management features. Organizations using this system face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in educational environments where sensitive student information is stored and managed. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, malicious scripts can continue to execute against other users until the vulnerability is patched or the session expires.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44565 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch for RosarioSIS version 7.6.1 or later, which addresses the flawed xss_clean function implementation. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation at multiple layers, proper output encoding for all user-provided content, and content security policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering attacks and T1071 for application layer protocols. Organizations should conduct thorough security testing of all input fields and implement comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be prioritized to prevent similar issues in other components of the educational management system.