CVE-2023-41316 in Tolgee
Summary
by MITRE • 09/07/2023
Tolgee is an open-source localization platform. Due to lack of validation field - Org Name, bad actor can send emails with HTML injected code to the victims. Registered users can inject HTML into unsanitized emails from the Tolgee instance to other users. This unsanitized HTML ends up in invitation emails which appear as legitimate org invitations. Bad actors may direct users to malicious website or execute javascript in the context of the users browser. This vulnerability has been addressed in version 3.29.2. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2023
This vulnerability exists within Tolgee, an open-source localization platform, where insufficient input validation for the Organization Name field creates a critical security flaw that enables cross-site scripting attacks through email invitations. The vulnerability stems from the platform's failure to sanitize user-provided input before incorporating it into email content, specifically within invitation emails sent to other users. Attackers can exploit this weakness by registering with malicious HTML content in the organization name field, which then gets embedded into invitation emails without proper sanitization. This creates a sophisticated social engineering vector where legitimate-looking organization invitations contain embedded malicious code that can execute in the recipient's browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, specifically representing a server-side XSS vulnerability where user input flows directly into email output without adequate sanitization. The attack chain begins with a malicious actor creating an account using a crafted organization name containing HTML or JavaScript payloads, which then propagates through the system's email generation process. When other users receive these invitations, the embedded malicious code executes within their browser environment, potentially redirecting them to phishing sites or executing unauthorized commands. This represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that mandate input sanitization and output encoding for all user-controllable data elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email content manipulation, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and execute arbitrary code within the browser context. Users who accept these invitations become unwitting participants in a potential attack chain that could lead to credential theft, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the platform. The vulnerability affects the platform's core functionality by compromising the trust model between users and the system, as legitimate invitations become indistinguishable from malicious ones. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that registered users can leverage this flaw, making it a persistent threat that doesn't require external system compromises to exploit.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization for all user-controllable fields, particularly those that appear in email communications. The platform should enforce strict sanitization of HTML content in email templates and implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly escaped before being rendered in email contexts, and that the email generation process follows secure coding principles. Organizations using Tolgee should immediately upgrade to version 3.29.2 where this vulnerability has been addressed, as no effective workarounds exist for this particular flaw. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both server-side and client-side attack vectors, particularly in applications that handle user-generated content in email communications.