CVE-2023-45280 in Yamcs
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Yamcs 5.8.6 allows XSS (issue 2 of 2). It comes with a Bucket as its primary storage mechanism. Buckets allow for the upload of any file. There's a way to upload an HTML file containing arbitrary JavaScript and then navigate to it. Once the user opens the file, the browser will execute the arbitrary JavaScript.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45280 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Yamcs 5.8.6 application, specifically classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or escape user-controllable data. This vulnerability manifests through the application's bucket storage mechanism, which serves as the primary data repository and allows unrestricted file uploads including HTML content. The security weakness stems from the application's insufficient validation and sanitization of uploaded files, particularly when these files contain malicious javascript code within html documents. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward yet dangerous attack pattern where an attacker uploads a specially crafted html file containing malicious javascript to the bucket storage system. Once the file is successfully uploaded and accessible through the application's interface, the vulnerability is triggered when a user navigates to the malicious file URL. The browser executes the embedded javascript code within the context of the authenticated user's session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, making it particularly dangerous as users are often unaware of the malicious content they are accessing.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-45280 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access points within the application environment. This vulnerability can be exploited to conduct session hijacking attacks, steal sensitive information from authenticated sessions, or manipulate application data through the execution of malicious javascript. The attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting JavaScript execution within web browsers. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to the malicious file, making it an effective vector for social engineering campaigns. Organizations using Yamcs 5.8.6 are at risk of unauthorized data access, potential data manipulation, and loss of user trust in the application's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45280 should focus on implementing robust input validation and content sanitization measures within the bucket storage system. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Yamcs if available, while implementing strict file type validation that prevents html and javascript uploads. The application should enforce content security policies that prevent execution of inline scripts and implement proper file extension validation with server-side restrictions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and regular security scanning of uploaded content can provide additional layers of defense. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file upload activities and user navigation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should also include user education about the risks of accessing untrusted content within the application environment, while implementing principle of least privilege access controls for file upload capabilities to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.