Oxwall Forum v1.8.1 - Persistent Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability

[Vulnerability Lab <research@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Document Title:
===============
Oxwall Forum v1.8.1 - Persistent Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability


References (Source):
====================
http://www.vulnerability-lab.com/get_content.php?id=1740


Release Date:
=============
2016-02-22


Vulnerability Laboratory ID (VL-ID):
====================================
1740


Common Vulnerability Scoring System:
====================================
3.6


Product & Service Introduction:
===============================
Oxwall is unbelievably flexible and easy to use PHP/MySQL social networking 
software platform. Its flexibility is an extremely easy way to 
change the way it works using Oxwall plugins. These plugins are complete units 
of functionality that can be used for various purposes.
We take special care about core and plugins compatibility so any updates are 
easy like a breeze. Just click that button in the admin area.
Oxwall offers unseen level of efficiency when you need a full-featured, working 
site. The project is operated by Oxwall Foundation – a 
non-profit that oversees the platform development and coordinates third party 
efforts.

(Copy of the Homepage: http://www.oxwall.org/index )


Abstract Advisory Information:
==============================
An independent vulnerability laboratory researcher discovered an 
application-side cross site scripting vulnerability in the official Oxwell 
v1.8.1 Forums.


Vulnerability Disclosure Timeline:
==================================
2016-02-22:     Public Disclosure (Vulnerability Laboratory)


Discovery Status:
=================
Published


Affected Product(s):
====================
Oxwall Software
Product: Oxwall Forums (Web-Application) 1.8.1


Exploitation Technique:
=======================
Remote


Severity Level:
===============
Medium


Technical Details & Description:
================================
A persistent Cross site scripting vulnerability has been discovered in the 
official Oxwall social network web Application software
The security vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject own script code to 
the application-side of the affected application module.

The vulnerability is located in `Forums of users` module. Remote attackers with 
low privilege web-application user accounts are able to 
inject own malicious script code via POST method request to the 
application-side. The injection points are the `Forum name` and `Description` 
parameters in the add POST method request. The vulnerability is located to the 
application-side of the vulnerable web-application and the 
request method to inject is POST.

The security risk of the application-side input web vulnerability is estimated 
as medium with a cvss (common vulnerability scoring system) count of 3.5. 
Exploitation of the persistent validation web vulnerability requires a low 
privileged web-application user account and low or medium user interaction. 
Successful exploitation of the vulnerabilities results in persistent phishing 
mails, session hijacking, persistent external redirect to malicious sources 
and application-side manipulation of affected or connected module context.

Request Method(s):
                                [+] POST

Vulnerable Module(s):
                                [+] Forums of users

Vulnerable Parameter(s):
                                [+] Forum name (group-name)
                                [+] Description (description)

Affected Module(s):
                                [+] Oxwall forums


Proof of Concept (PoC):
=======================
The application-side input validation web vulnerability can be exploited by 
remote attackers with low privileged web-application user account and low or 
medium user interaction.
For security demonstration or to reproduce the web vulnerability follow the 
provided information and steps below to continue.

Manual steps to reproduce the vulnerability ...
1. A Moderator or an user with custom roles goes to:
Note: http://localhost:8080/SCRIPTPATH/forum/customize
2. Add new forum [ group] and inject Persistent XSS codes into application side
3. The code executes in the moderators location
4. Successful reproduce of the application-side vulnerability!

--- [POST METHOD] (Values) ---
form-add= add-forum-form
group-name = [PERSISTENT CODE] 
section = General 
description = [ PERSISTENT CODE] 
submit button


Reference(s):
http://localhost:8080/SCRIPTPATH/forum/customize


Solution - Fix & Patch:
=======================
The vulnerability can be patched by a secure parse and encode of the vulnerable 
groupname and description input fields. 
Restrict the input and disallow usage of special chars.
Filter and setup a secure exception handling that prevents the persistent 
execution in the output location.


Security Risk:
==============
The security risk of application-side cross site scripting web vulnerability in 
oxwall web application software is estimated as medium. (CVSS 3.5)


Credits & Authors:
==================
Vulnerability Laboratory [Research Team] - Lawrence Amer - 
http://www.vulnerability-lab.com/show.php?user=Lawrence%20Amer


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=========================
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