Source: cve@mitre.org
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IPortalX before Build 033 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) KW and (2) SF parameters to forum/login_user.asp, and (3) the Date parameter to blogs.asp.
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities exist in IPortalX, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. Successful exploitation could lead to account compromise, data theft, or website defacement. This vulnerability targets specific input parameters within the application, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code within a user's browser.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: An attacker crafts a malicious URL containing a JavaScript payload within the vulnerable parameters (KW, SF, or Date). For example: http://vulnerable.example.com/forum/login_user.asp?KW=<script>alert('XSS')</script>
Step 2: Request Submission: The attacker sends the crafted URL to a victim, typically through phishing, social engineering, or other means.
Step 3: Server Processing: The IPortalX application receives the request and processes the parameters, including the malicious payload.
Step 4: Response Generation: The application generates an HTML response that includes the unsanitized user-supplied data (the payload) within the page's HTML structure.
Step 5: Browser Rendering: The victim's web browser receives the malicious HTML response and renders it. The browser interprets the injected JavaScript code.
Step 6: Code Execution: The injected JavaScript code executes within the victim's browser, allowing the attacker to perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting the user, or defacing the website.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within IPortalX. Specifically, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the HTML response. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the KW, SF, and Date parameters. The lack of proper input validation allows malicious payloads to be passed to the application. The absence of output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) prevents the browser from interpreting the injected code as data, leading to XSS. The root cause is a failure to implement secure coding practices, specifically related to handling user-supplied data in web applications. The application trusts user input without proper sanitization, leading to the execution of arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable website.
This vulnerability is likely targeted by opportunistic attackers seeking to compromise websites for various malicious purposes. While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, XSS vulnerabilities are frequently used by various threat actors. CISA KEV status: Not Applicable (due to age and lack of current active exploitation).
Network Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) can be configured to detect malicious payloads within HTTP requests, specifically targeting the KW, SF, and Date parameters. Look for <script> tags, javascript: URIs, and other XSS attack vectors.
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be deployed to filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application. WAFs can be configured with rules to block XSS payloads.
Review web server access logs for suspicious requests containing XSS payloads. Look for unusual patterns or repeated attempts to exploit the vulnerability.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions can be used to monitor for malicious JavaScript execution within web browsers.
Forensic analysis of web server logs and application logs to identify successful exploitation attempts, including the attacker's IP address, user agent, and the specific payload used.
Implement robust input validation on all user-supplied data. Sanitize all input to remove or encode potentially malicious characters (e.g., <, >, &, ', ").
Implement output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) to ensure that user-supplied data is treated as data, not code, when rendered in the HTML response.
Upgrade to a patched version of IPortalX or a more secure alternative. If upgrading is not possible, apply any available security patches.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests.
Regularly scan the web application for vulnerabilities using automated tools.
Educate developers on secure coding practices, including how to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Review and harden the web server configuration to minimize attack surface.