Source: cna@vuldb.com
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in PHPGurukul Land Record System 1.0. This affects an unknown part of the file /index.php. The manipulation of the argument searchdata leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
PHPGurukul Land Record System 1.0 is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack due to insufficient input validation in the /index.php file. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts, potentially leading to account compromise and data theft by executing arbitrary code within a victim's browser.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious URL containing a JavaScript payload within the searchdata parameter. For example, http://<target>/index.php?searchdata=<script>alert('XSS')</script>.
Step 2: Request Submission: The attacker sends the crafted URL to a victim, potentially through phishing, social engineering, or a compromised website.
Step 3: Server Processing: The vulnerable application receives the request and processes the searchdata parameter.
Step 4: Response Generation: The application includes the unsanitized searchdata value directly within the HTML response, typically within a search results page.
Step 5: Payload Execution: When the victim's browser renders the HTML response, the injected JavaScript payload executes, allowing the attacker to perform malicious actions within the victim's browser context.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper sanitization of the searchdata parameter within the /index.php file. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input into the HTML response without any filtering or encoding. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the searchdata parameter. When a user views the search results, the injected script executes within their browser, enabling the attacker to steal cookies, redirect the user, or deface the website. The root cause is a failure to implement input validation and output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) to prevent the execution of malicious code. The specific function or logic flaw is the direct inclusion of the searchdata parameter's value into the HTML response without proper sanitization.
While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, the ease of exploitation makes it attractive to a wide range of attackers, including script kiddies and opportunistic attackers. This vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. CISA KEV status: Not listed.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) logs showing suspicious requests containing <script> tags or other malicious JavaScript code in the searchdata parameter.
Network traffic analysis revealing unusual HTTP requests to /index.php with potentially malicious payloads in the searchdata parameter.
Server-side logs indicating the injection of malicious code into the application's output.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) alerts triggered by XSS signatures.
Reviewing web server access logs for unusual user agents or patterns of access that suggest exploitation attempts.
Implement input validation to strictly control the format and content of the searchdata parameter, rejecting or sanitizing any potentially malicious input.
Apply output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) to the searchdata parameter before displaying it in the HTML response, ensuring that any injected code is treated as data and not executed.
Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious requests and block XSS attempts.
Regularly update the PHPGurukul Land Record System to the latest version or apply any available security patches.
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict the sources from which the browser can load resources, mitigating the impact of XSS attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.