CVE-2024-32405 in Relate Learning And Teaching System
Summary
by MITRE • 04/22/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in inducer relate before v.2024.1 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted payload to the Answer field of InlineMultiQuestion parameter on Exam function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
This cross site scripting vulnerability exists in the inducer relate application version prior to v.2024.1 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing user input through the Answer field of the InlineMultiQuestion parameter within the Exam function, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious code that can be executed by other users who view the affected content. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to bypass security controls that would normally prevent script execution. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to privilege escalation as attackers can craft malicious payloads that manipulate the application's behavior to perform actions beyond normal user permissions. When an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts, they can potentially access sensitive user data, hijack user sessions, or perform actions as authenticated users within the application's context. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as this vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent attacks that maintain access over time, particularly if the injected content is stored and later displayed to multiple users. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction beyond viewing the affected content, making it suitable for automated exploitation campaigns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious inputs to manipulate application behavior and achieve unauthorized access. The flaw represents a failure in the application's defense in depth strategy where input validation should occur at multiple layers to prevent malicious data from reaching the application's core processing functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions without requiring continuous authentication. Attackers can craft payloads that execute in the context of the victim's browser, potentially enabling them to access sensitive exam data, manipulate test results, or gain access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's location within the Exam function suggests it could compromise the integrity of educational assessments, potentially allowing attackers to alter answers, inject malicious content, or access restricted examination materials. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that even if an attacker initially gains access with limited user privileges, they can potentially elevate their access level through the execution of malicious scripts. This creates a cascading security risk where a single compromised input field can potentially lead to broader system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that injected scripts can be stored within the application's database and executed whenever the affected content is retrieved, making detection and remediation more challenging. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious payloads that leverage the application's trust in user input, bypassing standard security controls that would normally prevent such attacks from succeeding.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective immediate fix involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those that are directly rendered in web pages, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly escaped or removed before processing. Applications should adopt a whitelist approach to input validation, accepting only known good characters and patterns rather than attempting to filter out malicious content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the application's context. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input fields and processing functions. The application should also implement proper session management controls to limit the damage that can be caused by successful XSS exploitation attempts. Organizations should ensure that all users have access to the latest security patches and updates, particularly focusing on the specific version requirements mentioned in the vulnerability description. Regular monitoring and logging of user inputs should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while automated scanning tools can help identify similar vulnerabilities across the application's codebase. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code reviews focused on input handling and output encoding practices, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the application. Security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate sanitization of user-controllable data.