CVE-2023-25836 in Portal Sites
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2023
There is a Cross-site Scripting vulnerability in Esri Portal Sites in versions 10.8.1 – 10.9 that may allow a remote, authenticated attacker to create a crafted link which when clicked could potentially execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victims browser. The privileges required to execute this attack are low.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-25836 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Esri Portal Sites software versions 10.8.1 through 10.9. This security weakness enables remote attackers with minimal privileges to exploit a web application vulnerability that could lead to unauthorized code execution in victim browsers. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied input within the portal environment, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that persist in the application's response handling mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it allows for complete browser compromise through the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Esri Portal Sites framework. When authenticated users interact with the application, maliciously crafted links containing script payloads can be processed and rendered without proper sanitization. This occurs because the application fails to adequately escape or filter user-provided content before incorporating it into dynamic web responses. The vulnerability specifically affects how the portal handles certain URL parameters or form inputs that are subsequently displayed to other users, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-25836 is significant as it allows for various attack vectors that could compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to privilege escalation within the portal environment. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can craft malicious links that, when clicked by other users, execute JavaScript code in their browser context. This capability enables session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where portal sites serve as central access points for various business applications and sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing for Information, as it leverages social engineering through crafted malicious links that appear legitimate to end users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate potential exploitation. The primary mitigation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches released for Esri Portal Sites versions 10.8.1 through 10.9, which address the core input validation and output encoding flaws. Additionally, implementing robust content security policies through HTTP headers can provide defense-in-depth against script execution, while input sanitization mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious link patterns and unusual user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent successful phishing campaigns that leverage this vulnerability, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection against known attack patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive input validation across all web application components to prevent persistent cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise entire user sessions and organizational data integrity.