CVE-2023-1690 in Earnings and Expense Tracker App
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in SourceCodester Earnings and Expense Tracker App 1.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file LoginRegistration.php?a=register_user. The manipulation of the argument fullname leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The identifier VDB-224309 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1690 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SourceCodester Earnings and Expense Tracker App version 1.0. This security weakness resides in the LoginRegistration.php file when processing the registration user functionality, specifically in how the fullname parameter is handled during the user registration process. The vulnerability classification as problematic indicates a significant risk to user security and application integrity, particularly given the remote exploitation capability that allows attackers to initiate attacks without physical access to the system.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the application's registration mechanism. When users attempt to register through the LoginRegistration.php?a=register_user endpoint, the fullname parameter is not properly sanitized before being processed or stored within the application's database or displayed in subsequent user interfaces. This failure to validate and sanitize user input creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into the fullname field, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when the affected data is rendered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user experiences and potentially escalate their privileges within the application. Remote exploitation means that attackers can craft malicious requests that, when submitted by unsuspecting users, will execute the injected scripts in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. This opens the door to various attack vectors including credential theft, session manipulation, and potential redirection to malicious sites, all of which can compromise the entire user base of the application.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a web application attack vector under the technique of code injection, specifically targeting the application's user interface rendering components. Organizations using this application should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and proper parameter validation to prevent malicious script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar issues in other application components that may be susceptible to similar injection attacks, particularly in web applications that handle user-generated content and dynamic data rendering.