CVE-2026-102147 in Kiteworks
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) weakness in Kiteworks Core could allow an unauthenticated attacker to store crafted content that later executes arbitrary JavaScript in the authenticated session of an administrator who views the affected page. This could have permitted the attacker to gain full administrative control, including the creation of a new administrative account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified as a stored cross-site scripting flaw within Kiteworks Core represents a critical security deficiency that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the application environment. Unlike reflected XSS attacks where malicious scripts are executed immediately upon request processing, this specific weakness involves the persistent storage of malicious payload data on the server side. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this by injecting crafted content into input fields or upload mechanisms that do not properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database. This stored payload remains dormant until an authenticated administrator accesses a page where the compromised content is rendered, at which point the browser executes the embedded JavaScript code within the context of the admin's active session.
From a technical perspective, this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms during both the ingestion and rendering phases of data processing. The application fails to distinguish between executable script tags and safe text when displaying user-generated content in administrative interfaces. By leveraging standard HTML injection techniques, an attacker can embed event handlers or script blocks that trigger upon page load or specific user interactions. Because the execution occurs within the privileged context of an administrator's session, the browser grants the malicious script full access to all cookies, local storage, and API endpoints associated with that high-privilege account. This effectively bypasses authentication controls for subsequent actions initiated by the injected code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, potentially leading to a complete compromise of the Kiteworks environment. Once arbitrary JavaScript executes in an administrator's session, the attacker can perform any action available to that role. As noted in the description, this includes creating new administrative accounts with elevated privileges, thereby establishing persistent backdoor access even if the initial exploit vector is patched or detected. Beyond account creation, attackers could exfiltrate sensitive files stored within the platform, modify system configurations, intercept communications between users and servers via session hijacking techniques such as cookie theft using document.cookie access, or deface user-facing pages to damage organizational reputation. The ability to act with administrative rights means that data integrity, availability, and confidentiality are all at significant risk.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers such as CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation known as cross-site scripting, specifically the stored variant often categorized under CWE-80 or related subtypes depending on the specific rendering context. In terms of offensive security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this exploit maps to techniques involving Client-side Scripting Injection and potentially Account Manipulation for persistence. The attack chain typically involves Initial Access through unauthenticated input vectors followed by Execution via browser-based script interpretation, leading to Credential Access or Privilege Escalation depending on the specific actions taken post-exploitation.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust defense-in-depth measures centered around secure coding practices and runtime protection. Developers should enforce strict output encoding for all dynamic content rendered in HTML contexts, ensuring that special characters are converted into their corresponding HTML entities to prevent browser interpretation as executable code. Input validation is equally critical; applications must validate incoming data against a whitelist of allowed formats rather than relying on blacklist approaches which can be easily bypassed using obfuscation techniques. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can significantly reduce the impact by restricting the sources from which scripts are loaded and executed, thereby preventing inline script execution even if injection occurs.
Beyond code-level fixes, administrative controls should include regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar flaws across other modules of the Kiteworks suite. Enforcing multi-factor authentication for all administrator accounts adds a layer of protection that can mitigate some risks associated with session hijacking or credential theft resulting from XSS exploits. Furthermore, deploying Web Application Firewalls configured with rulesets capable of detecting and blocking common XSS payloads in HTTP requests provides an additional perimeter defense mechanism. Regular updates to the Kiteworks software are essential as vendors release patches addressing these underlying architectural weaknesses, ensuring that known vectors for stored cross-site scripting are neutralized before they can be leveraged by malicious actors seeking unauthorized administrative access.