ActiveWeb Contentserver CMS Multiple Cross Site Scriptings

RedTeam Pentesting discovered three Cross Site Scripting vulnerabilities in the activeWeb contentserver CMS during a penetration test. One of the Cross Site Scriptings is persistent.

Details

• Product: activeWeb contentserver
• Affected Versions: <= 5.6.2929
• Fixed Versions: 5.6.2964
• Vulnerability Type: Cross Site Scripting
• Security-Risk: high
• Vendor-URL: http://www.active-web.de/aw/home/Produkte/~gf/contentserver/
• Vendor-Status: informed, fixed version released
• Advisory-URL: https://www.redteam-pentesting.de/advisories/rt-sa-2007-005
• Advisory-Status: public
• CVE: CVE-2007-3014
• CVE-URL: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2007-3014

Introduction

contentserver is the comprehensive, scalable Content Management System for professional requirements. It combines editorial system, website management and development platform for web applications in one package.

(translation of the description on the vendor’s homepage)

XSS Error Page rights.asp

The variable “msg” of the ASP script “rights.asp” is not properly filtered.

Proof of Concept

http://www.example.com/errors/rights.asp
  ?awReadAccessRight=True
  &msg=<script>alert('XSS')</script>

XSS Error Page transaction.asp

The variable “msg” of the ASP script “transaction.asp” is not properly filtered.

Proof of Concept

http://www.example.com/errors/transaction.asp
  ?msg=<script>alert('XSS')</script>

Persistent XSS Mimetypes

As editors, users can add new mimetypes to the the system. The name of the new mimetype can contain arbitrary code. This allows for a persistent Cross Site Scripting.

Proof of Concept

As an editor, log into the management interface and add a new mimetype. For the name, use a script, e.g.

<script>alert('XSS')</script>

Everytime a user looks at the mimetypes, the code will be executed.

Workaround

A possible workaround would be to use a filtering application set up in front of the real webserver, mitigating the risk of being exploited.

Fix

The vulnerability is fixed in release 5.6.2964.

Security Risk

The risk is high, as these XSS can be used e.g. to steal session cookies of logged-in users.

History

• 2007-05-23 Problem found during a penetration test
• 2007-05-30 Vendor notified by customer
• 2007-06-01 Vendor called back and confirmed the vulnerability
• 2007-06-18 CVE number assigned
• 2007-07-11 Vendor released fixed version
• 2007-07-13 Advisory released
• 2009-05-08 Updated Advisory URL

The vendor was very cooperative. There was always a competent contact person available who answered any questions.

RedTeam Pentesting GmbH

RedTeam Pentesting offers individual penetration tests, short pentests, performed by a team of specialised IT-security experts. Hereby, security weaknesses in company networks or products are uncovered and can be fixed immediately.

As there are only few experts in this field, RedTeam Pentesting wants to share its knowledge and enhance the public knowledge with research in security-related areas. The results are made available as public security advisories.

More information about RedTeam Pentesting can be found at https://www.redteam-pentesting.de.