CVE-2024-7269 in ESP HR Management
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability in "Update of Personal Details" form in ConnX ESP HR Management allows Stored XSS attack. An attacker might inject a script to be run in user's browser. After multiple attempts to contact the vendor we did not receive any answer. The finder provided the information that this issue affects ESP HR Management versions before 6.6.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2024
The CVE-2024-7269 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the ConnX ESP HR Management system that specifically targets the "Update of Personal Details" web form. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which creates an ideal environment for stored cross-site scripting attacks. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input within the personal details update functionality, where malicious scripts are not properly sanitized or encoded before being stored and subsequently rendered in user browsers. The vulnerability affects all versions of ESP HR Management prior to version 6.6, indicating a significant window of exposure for organizations using older iterations of this HR management platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's data processing pipeline. When users submit personal details through the affected form, the application fails to properly sanitize the input data before storing it in the database. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored alongside legitimate user information. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload persists in the application's database and executes whenever other users view the compromised personal details page. The flaw directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly neutralize user-controllable input data that is later used in web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing ConnX ESP HR Management systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of any user who views the compromised personal details, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and full system compromise. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate user interactions with the HR management system, making it difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring approaches. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once an attacker gains access to inject malicious code, the payload remains active indefinitely until the system is patched, providing persistent attack capabilities. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through the manipulation of applications and system processes, and T1071.001 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Organizations affected by CVE-2024-7269 should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies while planning for the mandatory upgrade to ESP HR Management version 6.6 or later. The immediate remediation approach should include implementing strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level, specifically within the personal details update form processing. Security teams must also deploy web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and implement content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their HR management systems to identify any other potential input validation weaknesses. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS attack necessitates regular database audits to detect and remove any malicious payloads that may have already been injected into the system. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access controls and monitoring for suspicious user activities within the HR management system to detect potential exploitation attempts. The lack of vendor response to previous attempts to contact them emphasizes the importance of proactive security measures and maintaining internal security protocols for vulnerable systems that may not receive timely vendor support.