CVE-2023-4653 in icms2
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1-git.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2023
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities represent one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws, particularly when they manifest as stored XSS attacks that persist in server-side databases. The vulnerability identified in the GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to version 2.16.1-git demonstrates a classic case where user input is inadequately sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered in web pages without proper encoding or validation measures. This specific implementation flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect all users interacting with the compromised application.
The technical mechanism underlying this stored XSS vulnerability involves insufficient input validation and output encoding within the content management system's data handling processes. When users submit content through various forms or interfaces within the icms2 platform, the application fails to properly sanitize potentially malicious input before storing it in its database. This includes user-generated content such as comments, posts, titles, or any editable fields that can be processed and displayed on public-facing pages. The vulnerability typically occurs in areas where user-supplied data is directly inserted into HTML responses without appropriate context-aware encoding, allowing attackers to embed script tags or other malicious code sequences that execute when legitimate users view the affected content.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with significant opportunities for persistent malicious activities within the compromised environment. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts into the application's database, those scripts will execute every time legitimate users access pages containing the compromised content, potentially leading to credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, defacement of content, or exploitation of browser vulnerabilities through advanced attack vectors. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even if the initial injection occurs during a brief window, the malicious code continues to affect users until the vulnerable data is removed or the application is patched.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability through established frameworks such as CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and consider the implications under ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for initial access through web application attacks. Organizations utilizing this content management system must implement immediate patching strategies to upgrade to version 2.16.1-git or later, while also deploying comprehensive input validation mechanisms including proper HTML encoding of user-supplied content before storage. Additional mitigations should include implementing content security policies, regular security code reviews focusing on data sanitization practices, and establishing robust monitoring systems to detect potential injection attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of defense-in-depth strategies in web application security, emphasizing that proper input validation and output encoding must be implemented at every layer of application processing rather than relying on single points of failure within the security architecture.