CVE-2017-16015: Cross-Site Scripting in forms
Summary
CVE-2017-16015: Cross-Site Scripting in forms. Affects forms versions < 1.3.0. Fixed in 1.3.0. How to fix ↓
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Background
The 'forms' package is an npm package that provides functionality for generating HTML forms. It is commonly used in web development projects to simplify the process of creating and handling forms. However, versions of 'forms' prior to 1.3.0 are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. This vulnerability occurs because the package does not properly escape HTML in generated forms, allowing an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the rendered HTML.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the 'forms' package allows an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser. This can lead to various security issues, such as session hijacking, data theft, or defacement of the affected web application. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-80, which is the Common Weakness Enumeration identifier for Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (XSS).
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.3.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
npm install forms@1.3.0Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If updating the 'forms' package is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround is to manually sanitize the generated form HTML before rendering it in the browser. This can be done using a library or function that properly escapes HTML characters, such as 'htmlspecialchars' in PHP or 'DOMPurify' in JavaScript.
Conclusion
The 'forms' package prior to version 1.3.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks due to improper HTML escaping. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the package to version 1.3.0 or later. If immediate updating is not possible, manual HTML sanitization should be implemented. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or defacement of the affected web application.
You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your package-lock.json file and the playground will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.
While there may not be a specific known exploit for this vulnerability in the wild, it is important to address it promptly as XSS vulnerabilities are commonly targeted by attackers.
There have been reported incidents of XSS attacks in various web applications, some of which could be attributed to similar vulnerabilities. It is crucial to stay updated and apply necessary security patches to mitigate such risks.
If updating the 'forms' package is not immediately feasible, you should consider implementing a manual HTML sanitization process to ensure that any user-generated content is properly escaped before rendering it in the browser.
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