CVE-2023-41703 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
User ID references at mentions in document comments were not correctly sanitized. Script code could be injected to a users session when working with a malicious document. Please deploy the provided updates and patch releases. User-defined content like comments and mentions are now filtered to avoid potentially malicious content. No publicly available exploits are known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in document processing software where user identifiers referenced in mentions within document comments were not properly sanitized. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-defined content before rendering it in web interfaces. When users interact with malicious documents containing specially crafted comment mentions, the system processes these references without sufficient sanitization, creating an environment where malicious script code can be injected into user sessions. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through document attachments that appear legitimate. The flaw occurs specifically in the handling of user mentions within document comments, where the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to potentially enable full user account compromise and lateral movement within affected systems. When a victim opens a malicious document containing crafted comment mentions, the injected script code executes within their browser session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, or perform actions on behalf of the compromised user. The vulnerability affects collaborative document environments where users frequently interact with comments and mentions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where document sharing and collaboration are common practices. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish footholds for further attacks within network environments. The lack of publicly available exploits does not diminish the severity, as the vulnerability provides a clear path for attackers to develop and deploy malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the document processing pipeline. Organizations should deploy the provided updates and patch releases immediately to address the sanitization deficiencies in comment and mention handling. The fix should include comprehensive filtering of user-defined content, particularly in comment fields and mention references, to prevent potentially malicious content from being rendered in user sessions. Security controls should be enhanced to properly escape special characters and implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security reviews of all document processing components and implement automated scanning tools to detect similar sanitization issues. Regular security awareness training for users on identifying malicious document attachments remains critical, as the vulnerability requires user interaction with compromised documents to be exploited. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious user activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.