CVE-2023-2822 in Ethos Identity
Summary
by MITRE • 05/20/2023
A vulnerability was found in Ellucian Ethos Identity up to 5.10.5. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is an unknown function of the file /cas/logout. The manipulation of the argument url leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 5.10.6 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-229596.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2822 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Ellucian Ethos Identity version 5.10.5 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the logout functionality of the application, specifically within the /cas/logout endpoint where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being processed. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker can manipulate the url argument parameter, which then gets reflected back to users without adequate input validation or output encoding measures. This particular flaw falls under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a common web application security vulnerability where malicious scripts are injected into otherwise trusted websites. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows for remote exploitation without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites that appear legitimate to users. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable means that attackers can leverage this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target network. The fact that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is potentially in use increases the risk profile significantly, as it moves from a theoretical threat to an active danger that organizations face. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 which covers "Modify or Manipulate System Image" and T1566 which covers "Phishing", as attackers could leverage the XSS to redirect users to malicious sites or steal session cookies.
Organizations utilizing Ellucian Ethos Identity version 5.10.5 or earlier must urgently implement remediation measures to protect their systems and user data. The vendor has released version 5.10.6 which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability, making the upgrade process a critical security imperative. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the patched version, followed by thorough testing to ensure no regression issues are introduced. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls or security monitoring solutions to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical nature of validating all user inputs to prevent injection attacks. Without proper remediation, organizations remain at significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive institutional information.