CVE-2023-3829 in ICOGenie
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2023
A vulnerability was found in Bug Finder ICOGenie 1.0. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /user/ticket/create of the component Support Ticket Handler. The manipulation of the argument message leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. VDB-235150 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2023
This vulnerability resides within the Bug Finder ICOGenie 1.0 software platform, specifically targeting the support ticket handling functionality. The affected component is located at the /user/ticket/create endpoint, which processes user-generated support tickets. The vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input within the message parameter. This represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's classification as remote indicates that attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the support ticket creation handler. When users submit tickets through the web interface, the message field is processed without proper sanitization of potentially malicious content. This allows attackers to embed script tags or other malicious code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected ticket. The vulnerability specifically affects the message argument parameter, which is likely used to store detailed descriptions of support issues. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector where malicious actors can craft payloads that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating substantial risks for organizations using this software platform. Attackers could leverage this flaw to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information from support tickets, or manipulate the application's functionality to perform unauthorized operations. The remote exploit capability means that threat actors can target users from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on web-based support ticket systems. The potential for session hijacking represents a severe concern as attackers could gain access to administrative functions or sensitive user data. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used to deface the support portal, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish persistent backdoors within the organization's web infrastructure. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential data breaches as a result of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding implementations. The most effective approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly in the message parameter of support tickets, to prevent malicious script injection. Organizations should deploy proper content security policies that restrict script execution within the application's interface. Input validation should include regular expression filtering to remove or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and other malicious constructs. The application should also implement proper output encoding when displaying user-generated content to ensure that any injected scripts are rendered harmless. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while maintaining regular security updates and monitoring for similar vulnerabilities in other components. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify other potential injection points and ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the application. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies and following secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards including the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.