CVE-2021-45228 in Construction Cloud
Summary
by MITRE • 04/14/2022
An XSS issue was discovered in COINS Construction Cloud 11.12. Due to insufficient neutralization of user input in the description of a task, it is possible to store malicious JavaScript code in the task description. This is later executed when it is reflected back to the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45228 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within COINS Construction Cloud version 11.12, classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input within the task description functionality, creating an exploitable vector where malicious actors can inject persistent JavaScript code into the application's database. The flaw specifically manifests when users create or modify task descriptions, allowing attackers to store malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users who view these tasks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform persistent cross-site scripting attacks by leveraging the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied content before storing it in the backend database. When legitimate users subsequently view task descriptions containing malicious JavaScript, the code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious task descriptions that, when viewed by victims, trigger malicious payloads. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the lack of input validation at the point of storage rather than at the point of output rendering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can compromise the entire user session and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the COINS Construction Cloud environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal user authentication tokens, access sensitive project data, manipulate task assignments, or even escalate their privileges to administrative levels. The vulnerability affects all users who can create or modify task descriptions, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared project data. This flaw represents a significant risk to construction project management workflows where sensitive data and business-critical information are stored.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45228 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. Organizations should immediately implement proper HTML sanitization libraries to filter malicious content before storing user input, while also employing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. The application should enforce strict input validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding for all user-generated content displayed in web interfaces will prevent malicious scripts from executing even if they are somehow stored in the database. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while user education regarding the risks of viewing untrusted task descriptions can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.