CVE-2023-2692 in ICT Laboratory Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2023
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester ICT Laboratory Management System 1.0 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file views/room_info.php of the component GET Parameter Handler. The manipulation of the argument name leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-228973 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2692 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the SourceCodester ICT Laboratory Management System version 1.0. This security weakness resides in the GET parameter handler functionality specifically within the views/room_info.php file, making it a significant concern for organizations utilizing this particular software solution. The vulnerability classification as problematic indicates a substantial risk to system security and data integrity, particularly given that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is potentially in active use by threat actors. The issue demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the name argument within the GET parameter handler, which directly enables cross site scripting attacks. This flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability specifically affects the views/room_info.php component, suggesting that any functionality that processes room information data through GET parameters could be compromised. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The remote attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised user sessions. When users browse to pages that contain malicious script code, their browsers execute the injected code in the context of their authenticated sessions, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. This could include accessing sensitive laboratory data, modifying room configurations, or even gaining administrative privileges within the system. The disclosure of the exploit means that threat actors can readily implement attacks against vulnerable installations, creating an immediate risk for organizations that have not yet patched or mitigated the issue. The vulnerability's presence in a laboratory management system particularly raises concerns about potential exposure of sensitive research data, equipment access controls, and institutional security protocols.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls that sanitize all user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing proper output encoding techniques that prevent script execution in web contexts, as specified in the CWE-79 category for cross site scripting vulnerabilities. Security controls should include input filtering that removes or encodes potentially dangerous characters and implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, the ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for scripting, highlighting the importance of monitoring for suspicious script execution patterns and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase, while keeping the system updated with the latest security patches and implementing proper access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.