CVE-2024-54044 in Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2024
Adobe Connect versions 12.6, 11.4.7 and earlier are affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. If an attacker is able to convince a victim to visit a URL referencing a vulnerable page, malicious JavaScript content may be executed within the context of the victim's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
Adobe Connect is a web-based platform for virtual meetings and collaboration that has been identified with a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 12.6, 11.4.7 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input that is reflected back to the browser without adequate encoding or validation. In this specific case, an attacker can craft a malicious URL that, when visited by an unsuspecting user, will execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is delivered via a URL parameter or other input field, and the application simply reflects this input back to the browser without proper sanitization. This type of attack can be particularly effective in social engineering campaigns where attackers trick users into clicking malicious links, often through phishing emails or compromised websites. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation of the victim's browser session. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing) and T1584.002 (Compromise Infrastructure) as attackers can leverage it to establish persistent access through compromised user sessions. The vulnerability represents a critical risk to organizations using Adobe Connect as it allows attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute malicious code directly in the user's browser, potentially leading to full system compromise. The reflected XSS nature makes this particularly dangerous because the attack vector requires minimal setup from the attacker beyond crafting the malicious URL, while the victim's browser automatically executes the malicious code upon navigation to the crafted page.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly encode or validate user-supplied input before returning it to the browser. When a user accesses a vulnerable page with malicious input in the URL parameters, the application processes this input and reflects it back to the browser without adequate sanitization measures. This allows an attacker to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's session, potentially gaining access to sensitive information or performing actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email links, instant messaging, or compromised websites that redirect users to malicious Adobe Connect URLs. Organizations using affected versions should immediately consider patching their systems as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward method to compromise user sessions and execute arbitrary code within the browser context. The exploitability of this vulnerability is high due to the minimal technical skill required to craft malicious URLs, making it a preferred target for automated attack tools. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional network-level protections such as web application firewalls and input validation rules to mitigate the risk until patches are deployed.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected Adobe Connect versions, along with network-level protections and user education initiatives. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, aligning with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, along with monitoring for suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. The risk assessment should include evaluation of user access controls and session management practices to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability highlights the need for regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar flaws in other web applications. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends to any user who accesses vulnerable Adobe Connect pages, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may be simultaneously affected. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated web-based attacks. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle XSS vulnerabilities, ensuring rapid identification and remediation of similar threats across their IT infrastructure.