CVE-2022-24708 in Time Tracker
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
Anuko Time Tracker is an open source, web-based time tracking application written in PHP. ttUser.class.php in Time Tracker versions prior to 1.20.0.5646 was not escaping primary group name for display. Because of that, it was possible for a logged in user to modify primary group name with elements of JavaScript. Such script could then be executed in user browser on subsequent requests on pages where primary group name was displayed. This is vulnerability has been fixed in version 1.20.0.5646. Users who are unable to upgrade may modify ttUser.class.php to use an additional call to htmlspecialchars when printing group name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24708 affects Anuko Time Tracker, a widely used open source web-based time tracking application developed in PHP. This application serves as a critical tool for organizations managing employee time tracking and project billing, making it a potentially attractive target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The flaw resides within the ttUser.class.php file, which handles user and group management functionality within the application's core architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient output escaping of primary group names when displaying user information within the web interface. Specifically, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied group names before rendering them in HTML contexts, creating a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability. This flaw allows authenticated users to inject malicious JavaScript code into the group name field, which then executes in the browser of other users who view pages containing the compromised group information. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79, which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary cause of cross-site scripting attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it enables persistent malicious code execution within victim browsers. An attacker with access to the Time Tracker application can craft JavaScript payloads within group names that execute whenever the affected page loads, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further escalation within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially compromise other users' sessions. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which describes the use of malicious code to gain access to systems through compromised user sessions.
The vulnerability was successfully addressed in version 1.20.0.5646 through proper implementation of output escaping mechanisms. For organizations unable to upgrade immediately, a mitigation strategy involves modifying the ttUser.class.php file to include an additional call to htmlspecialchars function when displaying group names. This remediation approach follows established security practices for preventing XSS vulnerabilities by ensuring that potentially dangerous characters are properly escaped before being rendered in web contexts. The fix demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in multi-user environments where user-generated content can be displayed to other users. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the patched version while implementing proper security monitoring to detect any potential exploitation attempts.