CVE-2023-37533 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2023
HCL Connections is vulnerable to reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) where an attacker may leverage these issues to execute arbitrary script code in the browser of an unsuspecting user after visiting the vulnerable URL which contains the malicious script code. This may allow the attacker to steal cookie-based authentication credentials and comprise a user's account then launch other attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2023
Hcl connections represents a collaborative platform that enables organizations to facilitate communication and content sharing among users. The vulnerability identified as cve-2023-37533 resides within the platform's handling of user input parameters, specifically manifesting as a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that operates through web application interfaces. This security weakness allows malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that exploits the trust relationship between users and the application. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to properly sanitize and validate input data received from external sources, particularly when processing user-supplied parameters within url structures.
The technical implementation of this reflected xss vulnerability occurs when the application fails to adequately encode or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When a user visits a maliciously crafted url containing crafted script payloads, the application reflects this malicious code back to the user's browser without proper sanitization measures. This creates an environment where javascript code can execute within the context of the victim's session, bypassing normal security boundaries that typically protect against unauthorized script execution. The flaw specifically impacts the application's parameter handling mechanisms, where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious payloads from being processed and rendered in web responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user authentication and account integrity. Attackers can leverage the reflected xss to steal session cookies, authentication tokens, and other sensitive credentials that would normally remain protected within secure browser contexts. This credential theft capability allows adversaries to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data and collaborative environments. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for more advanced attacks such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, and the deployment of additional malicious payloads that can persist across multiple user sessions. Furthermore, the compromised user accounts can serve as launching points for lateral movement within organizational networks and escalation of privileges.
Mitigation strategies for cve-2023-37533 should prioritize immediate implementation of robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and validated before processing, with particular attention to url parameters and query strings that may contain malicious payloads. The implementation of content security policies and proper header configurations can provide additional layers of protection against script execution. According to cwe-79 standards for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, developers should adopt defensive programming practices that include proper encoding of output data and comprehensive input validation. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability aligns with ttp-0014 in the attack tactic framework, where initial access is achieved through web-based exploitation techniques. Regular security assessments and automated scanning of web applications for similar vulnerabilities should be implemented as part of ongoing security monitoring practices to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses.