A recent report has shed light on a newly discovered cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could compromise systems using the Web-Based Student Clearance System v1.. With the identifier CVE-2022-43076, this security flaw must not be taken lightly. In this post, we'll dive deeper into the details of this vulnerability, explain its practical implications, and suggest ways to mitigate the potential risks.

Affected Component

The vulnerability is found in the /admin/edit-admin.php file of the Web-Based Student Clearance System v1.. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting a crafted payload into the 'txtemail' parameter, enabling them to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML. This injected content can compromise the integrity and security of the application, potentially affecting other users and administrators.

The following code snippet from /admin/edit-admin.php demonstrates the vulnerability

if (isset($_POST['update_admin'])) {
   $id = $_POST['txtid'];
   $user = $_POST['txtuser'];
   $email = $_POST['txtemail'];
   ...
}

As seen in the snippet above, the POST request data is directly assigned to the $email variable without adequate sanitization, which means that attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code into the 'txtemail' parameter.

An example of a crafted payload that could exploit this vulnerability is as follows

POST /admin/edit-admin.php HTTP/1.1
...
update_admin=1&txtid=1&txtuser=admin&txtemail=admin%40example.com%22%3E%3Cscript%3Ealert%28%27XSS%20Vulnerability%27%29%3C%2Fscript%3E

The malicious payload contains a JavaScript 'alert()' function which, when executed, can display the message "XSS Vulnerability" on the user's browser. This example further highlights the potential risks associated with this XSS vulnerability.

For original reference and PoC, please visit the following link: CVE-2022-43076 Reference

Stealing user credentials, including but not limited to, usernames and passwords.

2. Capturing sensitive information submitted by users, such as personal details and financial information.

To prevent attacks exploiting this particular XSS vulnerability, we recommend the following actions

1. Update to the latest version of Web-Based Student Clearance System that contains the necessary security patches.
2. Sanitize and validate user inputs, especially those that might end up being rendered as part of the HTML or JavaScript code.

Conclusion

The CVE-2022-43076 vulnerability poses a significant risk to the security and integrity of systems running the Web-Based Student Clearance System v1., making it crucial for administrators to take immediate action. By applying the mitigation recommendations mentioned above, users can protect themselves and their organizations from attacks leveraging this XSS vulnerability. Stay safe, folks!

Timeline

Published on: 11/01/2022 14:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/01/2022 20:42:00 UTC