CVE-2017-15571 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Redmine versions prior to 3.2.8, 3.3.x before 3.3.5, and 3.4.x before 3.4.3, specifically in the app/views/issues/_list.html.erb file due to manipulated column data.

Understanding CVE-2017-15571

This CVE entry describes a security issue in Redmine that could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser.

What is CVE-2017-15571?

CVE-2017-15571 is a Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability found in certain versions of Redmine, a popular project management web application.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15571

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the application, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15571

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in Redmine versions prior to 3.2.8, 3.3.x before 3.3.5, and 3.4.x before 3.4.3 allows for the injection of malicious scripts through manipulated column data in the app/views/issues/_list.html.erb file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Redmine versions prior to 3.2.8
Redmine 3.3.x versions prior to 3.3.5
Redmine 3.4.x versions prior to 3.4.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific column data that, when processed by the affected versions of Redmine, allows the execution of malicious scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-15571 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Redmine to versions 3.2.8, 3.3.5, or 3.4.3, which contain fixes for the XSS vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and audit user inputs and data processing to detect and prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to sanitize user inputs and prevent script injection.
Educate developers and administrators about secure coding practices to mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Redmine to apply patches promptly and ensure the ongoing security of the application.