CVE-2023-40461 in ALEOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
The ACEManager component of ALEOS 4.16 and earlier allows an authenticated user with Administrator privileges to access a file upload field which does not fully validate the file name, creating a Stored Cross-Site Scripting condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40461 affects the ACEManager component within ALEOS version 4.16 and earlier systems. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the lack of proper input validation in the file upload functionality, specifically targeting the file name parameter rather than the file content itself. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only an authenticated administrator account to exploit, significantly reducing the attack surface and increasing the potential impact of successful exploitation. The ALEOS platform serves as a comprehensive enterprise content management solution, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on its services for critical business operations.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient validation of file names in the upload field, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into file names that are then stored within the system. This stored XSS condition occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the file name before rendering it in subsequent user interfaces or administrative panels. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input sanitization mechanisms that should validate file names against known malicious patterns, character sequences, or script tags. This weakness falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and more specifically aligns with CWE-116 which covers improper encoding or escaping of output. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices where input validation is not comprehensive enough to prevent malicious code injection into the application's data storage layer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete administrative compromise of the affected system. An attacker with administrator privileges can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further privilege escalation within the ALEOS environment. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload persists in the system and can affect multiple users over time, making it particularly dangerous for environments with multiple administrators or users who regularly interact with the ACEManager component. This vulnerability can facilitate advanced persistent threats where attackers establish long-term access to the system through persistent script injection, potentially enabling data breaches or system compromise that could affect the entire enterprise content management infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced input validation for all file name parameters, proper output encoding of stored file names, and comprehensive security testing of upload functionalities. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of file upload components should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious file name patterns, while also ensuring that all administrative accounts maintain strong authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on the techniques related to command injection and cross-site scripting attacks. Regular patching and vulnerability assessment programs should be maintained to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in other components of the ALEOS platform or related systems.