CVE-2023-4145 in customer-data-framework
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository pimcore/customer-data-framework prior to 3.4.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4145 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the pimcore/customer-data-framework repository, affecting versions prior to 3.4.2. This repository is part of the Pimcore digital experience platform ecosystem, which provides customer data management capabilities for enterprise organizations. The stored XSS vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the framework's data handling processes, specifically when processing user-supplied data that gets persisted in the system's database. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected content, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where customer data is processed and displayed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user inputs that are stored within the customer data framework's database components. When customer information, including names, contact details, or custom attributes, is submitted through the platform's interfaces, the framework fails to adequately validate or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness enables attackers to submit malicious payloads that are stored in the database and subsequently rendered in user interfaces without proper escaping. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic case where input validation occurs at the wrong layer of the application architecture. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the system and affects multiple users who view the compromised data, unlike reflected XSS which requires specific user interaction.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4145 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive customer data, or redirect users to malicious websites. In enterprise environments utilizing Pimcore's customer data framework, this vulnerability could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of customer information, potentially leading to data breaches and regulatory compliance violations. Attackers could exploit this flaw to access customer records, modify customer data, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's presence in a customer data management framework particularly amplifies its risk profile since customer data often contains sensitive personal information, financial details, and other confidential attributes that organizations are legally obligated to protect. Organizations using affected versions of the framework may face significant operational disruption, including potential system compromise, data loss, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4145 require immediate patching of the affected repository to version 3.4.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input sanitization at multiple layers of their application architecture, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes rigorous validation before being stored or rendered. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security scanning of the application code can help identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct thorough security reviews of their customer data management processes and implement proper output encoding for all data displayed in user interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious content, and highlights the importance of maintaining secure coding practices in data management systems. Regular security training for development teams and implementation of secure coding standards can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future releases of the framework or related applications.