CVE-2023-4189 in icms2
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Reflected in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1-git.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2023
Cross site scripting vulnerability exists in the instantsoft icms2 repository prior to version 2.16.1-git where user input is not properly sanitized before being reflected back to users in web responses. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to validate and escape special characters in parameters received from HTTP requests, particularly in URL query strings or form inputs that are subsequently displayed without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs at the application layer where input validation controls are insufficient or absent. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper output encoding when rendering user-supplied data in web responses. When a victim visits a specially crafted URL containing malicious script code, the browser executes this code within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially compromising the user's session cookies or other sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding practices that violate fundamental security principles for preventing cross site scripting attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including stealing authentication tokens, modifying page content, redirecting users to phishing sites, or conducting session hijacking attacks. An attacker could leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted functionalities, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the application's scope. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation requires social engineering to convince victims to click on malicious links, but once triggered, the attack can have significant consequences for both user privacy and application integrity.
Security mitigations for this reflected XSS vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application codebase. Organizations should enforce strict parameter validation using allowlists of acceptable characters and lengths while ensuring all user-supplied data is properly escaped before rendering in web contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers provides additional defense in depth by restricting script execution sources, while proper sanitization libraries can help prevent malicious code injection attempts. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in software applications, and follows patterns commonly identified in the OWASP Top Ten Project's A03:2021 category of Injection vulnerabilities. The attack vector conforms to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing through social engineering, as exploitation typically requires user interaction with malicious links. Organizations should implement secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices guide and ensure regular security updates are deployed to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in third party libraries or frameworks.
The remediation process requires thorough code review to identify all input points where user data enters the application, implementing consistent sanitization routines for all dynamic content rendering, and deploying proper HTTP headers to mitigate potential attack impact. Version control systems should track security patches and ensure timely deployment of fixes to prevent exploitation while maintaining application functionality and user experience standards. Regular vulnerability assessments and security training for development teams help reduce the likelihood of similar issues occurring in future releases or modifications to the codebase.