CVE-2021-44584 in emlog
Summary
by MITRE • 01/06/2022
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in emlog version
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2022
The CVE-2021-44584 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw located in the index.php file of emlog versions, a popular open-source blogging platform. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the security of the entire blogging ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of user-supplied data within the index.php script, which serves as the primary entry point for the emlog platform's frontend interface.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when emlog fails to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web pages. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage the vulnerability by submitting crafted data through various input vectors such as comments, contact forms, or other user-submitted content fields. When the vulnerable emlog application processes these inputs without adequate filtering, the malicious JavaScript code gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where compromised users may unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-44584 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the entire emlog installation. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through cookie theft, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious content that propagates through the blog's user base. The vulnerability particularly affects websites using emlog versions prior to the patched release, leaving thousands of blogs exposed to potential exploitation. Organizations relying on emlog for content management face significant risk of data breaches, reputation damage, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to the nature of the vulnerability.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of affected emlog installations to the latest secure versions that address the XSS flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices to prevent similar issues in the future. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and control through script injection. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, using web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the application stack. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices and perform regular security training for developers to prevent such injection vulnerabilities from occurring in future releases.