CVE-2022-24851 in LDAP Account Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2022
LDAP Account Manager (LAM) is an open source web frontend for managing entries stored in an LDAP directory. The profile editor tool has an edit profile functionality, the parameters on this page are not properly sanitized and hence leads to stored XSS attacks. An authenticated user can store XSS payloads in the profiles, which gets triggered when any other user try to access the edit profile page. The pdf editor tool has an edit pdf profile functionality, the logoFile parameter in it is not properly sanitized and an user can enter relative paths like ../../../../../../../../../../../../../usr/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/gvim.png via tools like burpsuite. Later when a pdf is exported using the edited profile the pdf icon has the image on that path(if image is present). Both issues require an attacker to be able to login to LAM admin interface. The issue is fixed in version 7.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
LDAP Account Manager version 2022-24851 contains critical security vulnerabilities that enable stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input sanitization in multiple profile editing components. The vulnerability affects the profile editor tool where user-supplied parameters are not adequately validated or sanitized before being stored in the LDAP directory. This flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious javascript payloads into user profiles, which execute whenever other users access the edit profile page, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users within the system. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack under CWE-79, which represents one of the most dangerous forms of cross-site scripting where malicious code is permanently stored on the server and executed each time the affected page is accessed.
The second vulnerability exists in the PDF editor tool's profile functionality where the logoFile parameter accepts unsanitized relative path inputs. Attackers can exploit this by submitting malicious file paths such as ../../../../../../../../../../../../../usr/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/gvim.png through tools like Burp Suite, potentially allowing arbitrary file access or information disclosure. This represents a path traversal vulnerability that could enable attackers to access system files or resources outside of the intended application scope, with implications for both confidentiality and system integrity. Both vulnerabilities require authentication to the LAM admin interface, limiting their scope but not eliminating the risk since administrative accounts typically possess elevated privileges and access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple script execution, as they create persistent attack vectors that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or further system compromise. When an authenticated user stores malicious payloads in profiles, any user who accesses those profiles becomes a potential victim of the stored XSS attack, creating a chain reaction that can spread the attack throughout the user base. The PDF vulnerability could potentially expose sensitive system information or allow attackers to access files that should remain protected, particularly if the application runs with elevated privileges or has access to system resources beyond normal user boundaries. These flaws align with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.
Organizations using LDAP Account Manager should immediately upgrade to version 7.9.1 to remediate these vulnerabilities, as the fixes address both the input sanitization issues in the profile editor and the path traversal concerns in the PDF editor. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious profile modifications and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerabilities demonstrate the importance of proper input validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly when handling user-supplied data that will be rendered in subsequent user interactions. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on identifying similar sanitization gaps in other application components to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, as these types of vulnerabilities continue to represent significant attack surfaces for web-based applications.