CVE-2024-54048 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 hosting virtual meetings, training sessions, and collaborative workspaces that has been identified with a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 12.6 and 11.4.7 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation in web applications. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that is subsequently reflected back to the user's browser without adequate encoding or filtering mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads that, when visited by an unsuspecting user, gets executed within the victim's browser context. This reflected XSS attack vector operates by injecting malicious javascript code into the application's response through parameters in the URL, which are then executed when the page renders for the victim. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it allows attackers to bypass the same origin policy that normally protects web browsers from cross-site attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal user authentication tokens, access sensitive meeting data, or impersonate legitimate users within the Adobe Connect environment. The reflected nature of this attack means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but rather injected through the HTTP request, making it particularly difficult to detect and prevent through traditional server-side security measures.
Organizations using affected Adobe Connect versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, deployment of web application firewalls, and user education regarding suspicious URL links. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and monitor for unusual URL patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. This vulnerability highlights the persistent challenge of XSS attacks in complex web applications and the necessity of comprehensive security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited by threat actors.