CVE-2023-46394 in gougucms
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2023
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in /home/user/edit_submit of gougucms v4.08.18 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via injecting a crafted payload into the headimgurl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2026
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46394 affects gougucms version 4.08.18 and resides within the /home/user/edit_submit endpoint. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's user management interface, specifically targeting the headimgurl parameter which handles user profile image URLs. The flaw allows for persistent XSS attacks where malicious code injected by an attacker can be executed every time a victim accesses the affected page, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for user-facing applications. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically in the context of HTML output, where the application fails to properly validate or escape user-provided data before rendering it in the web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's user profile management system. When users submit profile information through the edit_submit endpoint, the headimgurl parameter is not properly sanitized before being stored in the database and subsequently rendered in the user interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content directly into the parameter value, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected user profiles. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between the application and its users, making it difficult to detect and prevent. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1531 for implantation of malicious code through web application interfaces, as it enables persistent malicious code execution through web-based input fields.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate application data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with extended access to victims who view the compromised profiles. This vulnerability could be exploited to escalate privileges within the application, access administrative functions, or harvest user credentials through keylogging or form harvesting techniques. The risk is amplified in environments where users may not be security-aware, as they might inadvertently click on links or interact with compromised profile information, leading to widespread compromise. Organizations using gougucms v4.08.18 should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate remediation, particularly in applications handling sensitive user data or requiring elevated security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46394 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's user management system. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user input, particularly parameters like headimgurl, through proper HTML encoding and validation before storing or rendering the data. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application endpoints. The fix should include implementing proper parameter validation to reject malformed URLs and ensure that all user-provided content is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing cross-site scripting attacks, with implications for the broader web application security community and adherence to OWASP Top Ten security principles.