CVE-2024-27524 in LMS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Chamilo LMS v.1.11.26 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted script to the filename parameter of the new_ticket.php component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27524 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Chamilo Learning Management System version 1.11.26. This security weakness resides in the new_ticket.php component where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject harmful scripts through the filename parameter. The Chamilo LMS is widely deployed educational platform that facilitates online learning environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for institutions relying on its functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized access and privilege escalation within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of user-supplied input in the filename parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious script and submits it through the filename parameter of the new_ticket.php endpoint. This unvalidated input then gets rendered in the application's output without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, creating an XSS vector. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows for privilege escalation, meaning that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain higher-level access rights within the LMS system. The XSS payload could be designed to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk due to its potential for privilege escalation and the fact that it operates without requiring any special privileges to initiate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it could compromise the entire educational platform's integrity and user data confidentiality. Educational institutions utilizing Chamilo LMS may face significant risks including unauthorized access to student records, course materials, and administrative functions. The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to gain access to sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, and academic records. The potential for privilege escalation means that an attacker could elevate their access level from a regular user to an administrator role, enabling them to modify course content, manipulate grades, or even delete critical system components. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of educational organizations and could lead to compliance violations under data protection regulations such as GDPR or FERPA. The attack could be particularly devastating in environments where the LMS handles sensitive personal information or academic records, as the exploitation could result in data breaches affecting thousands of users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being executed. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied input, particularly in the filename parameter of the new_ticket.php component. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability affects a specific version of the software. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should align with the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the T1059.007 technique for script injection and the T1078.004 technique for account manipulation. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in ticket creation requests, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that privilege escalation attempts are properly restricted. The implementation of secure coding practices and regular penetration testing will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.