CVE-2023-0578 in Book Cites
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ASOS Information Technologies Book Cites allows Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
This issue affects Book Cites: before 23.01.05.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0578 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ASOS Information Technologies Book Cites application, specifically impacting versions prior to 23.01.05. This weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an environment where malicious code can execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script payloads that are then processed by the Book Cites application and subsequently rendered in web pages viewed by other users. This improper input handling allows threat actors to inject javascript code or other malicious payloads that can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even deface web pages. The vulnerability specifically affects the web page generation process where user input is not adequately filtered or escaped, creating a persistent vector for attack that can be exploited across different user sessions and browser contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user privacy and application integrity. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to establish persistent access to user accounts, manipulate application functionality, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability's presence in versions before 23.01.05 suggests that it was likely introduced during the development lifecycle due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms, potentially violating security best practices established in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards. This weakness creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the Book Cites platform, as it allows for the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to complete account compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0578 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms that align with established security frameworks. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and encoded before being incorporated into web page content, utilizing techniques such as HTML escaping, javascript encoding, and content security policies to prevent script execution. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to version 23.01.05 or later, which includes proper input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms that address the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, deploying proper security headers, and conducting regular security testing can provide additional layers of protection against similar XSS vulnerabilities in the application's attack surface, following the principle of defense in depth as recommended by the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application security.