CVE-2024-42816 in fastapi-admin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2024
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Create Product function of fastapi-admin pro v0.1.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Product Name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the fastapi-admin pro v0.1.4 administrative interface where the Create Product functionality fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw specifically manifests when attackers submit malicious payloads through the Product Name parameter, which then gets rendered without adequate output encoding or validation. This represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the compromised product listings. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization practices that violate established security principles for preventing XSS attacks. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability directly maps to the weakness of insufficient output escaping or encoding, where web applications fail to properly encode data before rendering it in web pages. The attack can be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1566.001 - Phishing via Social Engineering, where attackers leverage XSS to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious domains. This vulnerability particularly affects the administrative interface where users with elevated privileges might be tricked into viewing compromised product entries, thereby exposing their authenticated sessions to compromise. The flaw represents a critical security gap in the application's defense-in-depth strategy, as it allows attackers to bypass traditional authentication mechanisms through client-side exploitation. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it occurs in an administrative function, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive data through session hijacking techniques. The lack of proper input validation means that any character sequence including script tags, event handlers, or javascript protocols can be injected and executed when the product name is displayed in the web interface. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing secure coding practices that prevent user-controllable data from being interpreted as executable code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or script execution to encompass potential complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to establish persistent access patterns by injecting malicious scripts that maintain session state or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated through various attack frameworks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative interfaces are frequently accessed by multiple users. The affected version of fastapi-admin pro v0.1.4 represents a specific release that lacks proper security hardening measures, including Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and proper input sanitization routines. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of implementing proper security controls at multiple layers, as the absence of input validation in the application layer creates opportunities for attackers to bypass security measures at other levels. The flaw creates an attack surface that can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated attackers depending on the application's access controls. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would likely violate security standards such as those outlined in ISO 27001 and NIST SP 800-53, which mandate proper input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Security monitoring tools may not detect this vulnerability until it is actively exploited, as legitimate user input might appear normal until malicious payloads are injected. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates through a common administrative function, meaning that even a single compromised product entry can affect multiple users who view the application interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers that restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, all user-controllable input parameters must undergo strict sanitization using established libraries and frameworks that properly escape HTML, JavaScript, and other potentially dangerous characters. The application should implement proper encoding routines when displaying user-generated content, ensuring that any special characters are converted to their safe HTML equivalents. Security patches and updates should be applied immediately to upgrade to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the affected version lacks proper security hardening. Organizations should implement automated security scanning tools that can detect similar injection vulnerabilities in web applications, including regular penetration testing and code reviews focused on input validation. The implementation of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also establish proper logging and monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and respond quickly to any suspicious activities. Regular security training for developers should emphasize secure coding practices and the importance of input validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, including threat modeling and secure coding practices that address the specific risks identified in the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should consider implementing proper access controls and session management to limit the potential damage from successful XSS exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that all input fields are properly sanitized and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other parts of the application. Proper security incident response procedures should be established to handle potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including user notification and session termination protocols.