CVE-2024-27477 in Leantime
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
In Leantime 3.0.6, a Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability exists within the ticket creation and modification functionality, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the title field of tickets (also known as to-dos). This stored XSS vulnerability can be exploited to perform Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27477 affects Leantime version 3.0.6 and represents a critical security flaw within the application's ticket management system. This issue manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that specifically targets the title field of tickets and to-dos, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user sessions and system integrity. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's data processing pipeline, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the database and executes whenever affected pages are rendered.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored XSS pattern where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently displayed to other users. When an attacker creates or modifies a ticket with malicious JavaScript code embedded in the title field, the application fails to adequately escape or filter the input, allowing the script to be stored in the database. This stored payload then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected ticket, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it combines XSS with potential SSRF capabilities, amplifying the attack surface and potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables sophisticated attack chains that can compromise entire user sessions and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the application. When combined with SSRF capabilities, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform internal network scanning, access backend services, or even exfiltrate sensitive data from within the organization's network perimeter. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload remains persistent and can affect multiple users over extended periods, making detection and remediation more challenging. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent script execution in user-controllable fields. The application should enforce strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly in fields where rich text or HTML content is not required. Organizations using Leantime should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, while also monitoring for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks, particularly focusing on the delivery of malicious payloads through web-based interfaces. The persistent nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities makes them particularly attractive to threat actors as they can maintain long-term access to target environments. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their attack surface, as this particular flaw represents a common pattern that can exist in many web-based ticketing and project management systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing a wide range of injection-based attacks that continue to represent significant threats in modern web applications.