CVE-2017-8897 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite 4.1.19.2 and earlier versions are susceptible to a pre-auth reflected XSS vulnerability through the IPS UTF8 Converter v1.1.18. The exploit occurs in the admin/convertutf8/index.php?controller= path, allowing attackers to create harmful announcements affecting Invision Power Board users.

Understanding CVE-2017-8897

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in the Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite that enables attackers to execute pre-auth reflected XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2017-8897?

The CVE-2017-8897 vulnerability affects Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite versions 4.1.19.2 and earlier, allowing attackers to exploit a reflected XSS vulnerability in the IPS UTF8 Converter v1.1.18.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8897

The vulnerability poses a risk of creating harmful announcements that can impact any user of the Invision Power Board who encounters the exploit. This can lead to potential security breaches and unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8897

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE-2017-8897 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the IPS UTF8 Converter v1.1.18 allows for pre-auth reflected XSS attacks through the admin/convertutf8/index.php?controller= path.

Affected Systems and Versions

Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite 4.1.19.2 and earlier versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the IPS UTF8 Converter, enabling them to create harmful announcements that impact users of the Invision Power Board.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-8897 and enhance security measures, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version of Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite to patch the vulnerability
Regularly monitor and review announcements and content on the Invision Power Board for any suspicious activity

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks
Educate users on safe browsing practices and awareness of potential security risks

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Invision Power Services to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security