CVE-2023-6426 in Online Invoicing System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2023
A vulnerability has been discovered in BigProf Online Invoicing System 2.6, which does not sufficiently encode user-controlled input, resulting in persistent XSS through /invoicing/app/invoices_view.php, in the FirstRecord parameter. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacking user to store dangerous JavaScript payloads on the system that will be triggered when the page loads.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6426 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw within the BigProf Online Invoicing System version 2.6. This security weakness resides in the /invoicing/app/invoices_view.php script where the FirstRecord parameter fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input. The absence of adequate input validation and output encoding creates a persistent XSS attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject and store dangerous JavaScript payloads within the application's data storage mechanisms. When legitimate users subsequently access the affected page, these stored payloads execute in their browser context, potentially leading to unauthorized actions, session hijacking, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's persistence aspect means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the system, making it particularly dangerous for long-term exploitation.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly encode output data. The vulnerability operates through a classic persistent XSS attack pattern where user input flows directly into the application's output without appropriate sanitization. The FirstRecord parameter serves as the attack vector, accepting user-controlled data that should be validated and encoded before being processed or displayed. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious JavaScript code that gets stored in the application's database or configuration files, then executed whenever the vulnerable page is accessed. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that the payload survives application restarts and remains active across multiple user sessions, amplifying its potential impact.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6426 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised system for further exploitation. Attackers can use this vulnerability to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, inject additional malware, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's location within an invoicing system creates additional risks since these applications often contain sensitive financial data, customer information, and business-critical records. When combined with other attack techniques from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and persistence, this vulnerability can serve as a foothold for more extensive breaches. The affected system's role in business operations means that exploitation could lead to significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for organizations relying on the BigProf platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6426 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms specifically targeting the FirstRecord parameter and similar user-controlled inputs within the invoicing application. The recommended approach involves applying context-specific encoding based on the output context where data is rendered, such as HTML, JavaScript, or URL encoding depending on the usage scenario. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to the latest version of the BigProf Online Invoicing System that addresses this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the primary vulnerability is not fully patched. Regular security assessments of web applications, including input validation testing and automated vulnerability scanning, should be conducted to identify similar issues. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization in web application development, particularly for applications handling sensitive business data.