CVE-2017-15273 : Security Advisory and Response

Versions of Mahara prior to 15.04.15, 16.04.9, 16.10.6, and 17.04.4 have a vulnerability allowing users to input harmful payloads like XSS code into titles within internal artifacts.

Understanding CVE-2017-15273

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Mahara versions before 15.04.15, 16.04.9, 16.10.6, and 17.04.4 that enables users to save malicious payloads as titles within internal artifacts.

What is CVE-2017-15273?

CVE-2017-15273 is a vulnerability in Mahara versions prior to 15.04.15, 16.04.9, 16.10.6, and 17.04.4 that permits users to insert harmful payloads, such as XSS code, into titles within internal artifacts.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15273

Malicious users can exploit this vulnerability to execute cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks within the Mahara platform.
It could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, data manipulation, or other security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15273

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows users to input harmful payloads, like XSS code, and save them as titles within internal artifacts in vulnerable Mahara versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mahara versions before 15.04.15, 16.04.9, 16.10.6, and 17.04.4 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Users can exploit the vulnerability by submitting malicious payloads, such as XSS code, to be saved as titles in internal artifacts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-15273 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mahara to versions 15.04.15, 16.04.9, 16.10.6, or 17.04.4 to eliminate the vulnerability.
Educate users about the risks of inserting harmful payloads into titles within the platform.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent the insertion of malicious payloads.
Regularly monitor and audit user-generated content for suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by Mahara to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-15273.