CVE-2024-40507 in openPetra
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in openPetra v.2023.02 allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information via the serverMPersonnel.asmx function.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40507 represents a cross site scripting flaw within the openPetra financial management system version 2023.02. This particular weakness resides within the serverMPersonnel.asmx web service endpoint which serves as a critical interface for personnel management functionalities. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious user-supplied data, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's response. The affected system operates under the assumption that all incoming data can be trusted without proper verification, which fundamentally compromises the security posture of the entire platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of parameters passed to the serverMPersonnel.asmx function, where attacker-controlled input is directly reflected in the server response without appropriate encoding or sanitization. This allows malicious actors to inject javascript code or other malicious payloads that execute within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected cross site scripting issue under CWE-79 which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into web page responses. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites that can further compromise their systems. The impact is particularly concerning given that openPetra is designed for financial and administrative management, making it a potentially attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to access sensitive organizational data.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges and access additional system resources. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this XSS vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks targeting the underlying database or administrative interfaces. The affected serverMPersonnel.asmx function likely handles sensitive personnel data including employee records, access credentials, and financial information which makes the potential impact significantly more severe than typical XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations using openPetra version 2023.02 face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to personnel files, and potential compromise of their entire financial management infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy under the MITRE ATT&CK framework where adversaries exploit web application vulnerabilities to establish persistent access and exfiltrate sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-40507 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces. The most effective remediation involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs before they are processed or returned to users, utilizing established libraries and frameworks that properly handle cross site scripting prevention. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also implementing content security policies to limit script execution within the application context. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase, particularly focusing on web services and API endpoints that handle user-supplied data. The implementation of proper access controls and session management mechanisms will further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an attacker gains initial access, they cannot escalate privileges or access unauthorized data. Additionally, comprehensive security awareness training for developers and administrators will help prevent similar issues from being introduced in future development cycles.