CVE-2023-5699 in Internet Banking System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in CodeAstro Internet Banking System 1.0. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file pages_view_client.php. The manipulation of the argument acc_name with the input Johnnie Reyes'"()&%alert(5646) leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-243137 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2023
This vulnerability exists within the CodeAstro Internet Banking System version 1.0, specifically in the pages_view_client.php file where improper input validation occurs. The flaw manifests when processing the acc_name parameter, which serves as a critical input field for client account names within the banking interface. The vulnerability is classified as a cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through crafted input strings. When an attacker submits the input Johnnie Reyes'"()&%alert(5646) into the acc_name field, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. This creates an opportunity for malicious script execution within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XSS attack pattern where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into dynamically generated web pages without adequate sanitization. The specific input sequence includes special characters that bypass basic validation mechanisms and trigger the browser's JavaScript engine to execute the embedded alert function. This demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's input processing pipeline where the system does not properly escape or filter potentially dangerous characters such as quotes, ampersands, and parentheses that are commonly used in XSS attack vectors. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in a banking environment where user trust and session integrity are paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe given the context of an internet banking system where sensitive financial data is processed. An attacker could leverage this XSS flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized transactions, or redirect users to malicious sites that mimic the legitimate banking interface for credential theft. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can initiate attacks from any location without requiring physical access to the system or network. The disclosed exploit code in VDB-243137 indicates that this vulnerability has already been weaponized and is actively being used in the wild, increasing the risk to end users and financial institutions. The banking system's exposure to this vulnerability creates a pathway for sophisticated attacks that could compromise customer accounts and financial data integrity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input sanitization that removes or escapes dangerous characters before processing user input, combined with proper output encoding that ensures any user-supplied data rendered in HTML contexts is properly escaped. Organizations should deploy Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and implement proper session management controls that include secure cookie attributes and session timeout mechanisms. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique commonly catalogued in ATT&CK framework under T1566 for initial access through malicious inputs. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be implemented to address such vulnerabilities promptly and prevent exploitation by threat actors.