CVE-2018-16516: Reflected XSS in Flask-Admin
Summary
CVE-2018-16516: helpers.py in Flask-Admin 1.5.2 has Reflected XSS via a crafted URL. Affects flask-admin versions < 1.5.3. Fixed in 1.5.3. How to fix ↓
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Background
Flask-Admin is a Python package available on PyPI that provides an administrative interface for Flask applications. It allows developers to easily create and manage administrative views for their web applications. However, Flask-Admin version 1.5.2 is vulnerable to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in Flask-Admin version 1.5.2 is due to insufficient input sanitization in the 'helpers.py' file. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious URL that contains a specially crafted script. When a user clicks on the malicious URL, the script is executed in the context of the vulnerable application, leading to potential XSS attacks. This can result in the execution of arbitrary code or the theft of sensitive information.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.5.3
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "flask-admin==1.5.3"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is essential to upgrade to the fixed version of Flask-Admin to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Conclusion
Flask-Admin version 1.5.2 is vulnerable to a Reflected XSS attack. To mitigate the risk, it is crucial to upgrade to version 1.5.3 or later. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for flask-admin →
FAQ
Flask-Admin is a Python package that provides an administrative interface for Flask applications. It simplifies the process of creating and managing administrative views for web applications.
Reflected XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users. The scripts are executed in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code or the theft of sensitive information.
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious URL that contains a specially crafted script. When a user clicks on the malicious URL, the script is executed in the context of the vulnerable Flask-Admin application.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to the execution of arbitrary code, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or the manipulation of user sessions.
Yes, upgrading Flask-Admin to version 1.5.3 or later fixes this vulnerability by implementing improved input sanitization to prevent the execution of malicious scripts.
