GHSA-fhrf-q333-82fm CI4MS: Blogs Categories Full Account Takeover for All-Roles & Privilege-Escalation via Stored DOM XSS
Summary**Vulnerability: Stored DOM XSS via Blog Category Title (Persistent Payload Injection)**Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Unsanitized Blog Category Title in Blog ManagementDescriptionThe application fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input when creating or editing blog categories. An attacker can inject a malicious JavaScript payload into the category title field, which is then stored server-side.This stored payload is later rendered unsafely across public-facing blog category pages, administrative interfaces, and blog post views without proper output encoding, leading to stored cross-site scripting (XSS).Affected FunctionalityBlog category creation functionalityBlog category editing functionalityBlog category storage and retrieval logicAttack ScenarioAn attacker creates or edits a blog category title to include a malicious XSS payload.The application stores this value without sanitization or encoding.The payload persists and executes whenever the category title is rendered in affected views.ImpactPersistent Stored XSSExecution of arbitrary JavaScript in victims’ browsersPrivilege escalation when viewed by administrators or privileged usersFull administrator account takeoverFull account takeover across all rolesFull compromise of the entire applicationEndpoints:`/backend/blogs/categories/``/blog/{id}`Steps To Reproduce (POC)Go to the Blog Categories management pageCreate or edit a category and insert an XSS payload into the category title such as:
`<img src=x onerror=alert(document.domain)>`Save the categoryView a public blog category page, blog post page, or the administrative interfaceNotice the XSS payload executing automaticallyRemediation**Avoid unsafe DOM manipulation methods:** Do not use `.html()`, `innerHTML`, or similar sink functions in client-side JavaScript or server-side templating (e.g., PHP). Even when user input flowing into these sinks is not immediately apparent, they can introduce Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities that an attacker may exploit.**Apply output encoding:** Implement HTML entity encoding on all user-controlled data before rendering it in the browser. This helps neutralize potentially malicious input.**Implement input sanitization:** Ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before processing or output. Currently, no sanitization mechanisms are in place, which should be addressed as a priority.**Enforce security headers and cookie attributes:****Content Security Policy (CSP):** Define and enforce a strict CSP to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts.**HttpOnly flag:** Set the `HttpOnly` attribute on session cookies to prevent client-side script access.**SameSite attribute:** Configure the `SameSite` cookie attribute to mitigate Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) risks.**Secure flag:** Ensure all cookies are transmitted only over HTTPS by enabling the `Secure` attribute.These measures collectively reduce the impact of XSS and help prevent escalation paths such as CSRF via XSS.Ready Video POC:https://mega.nz/file/GAFC3AJY#3LHyuyl7I7921UEeA-JlUYdckh6zGLCTy-6w9BNzSmQ
CVSS v3.1 score: 9.9