CVE-2017-8898 : Security Advisory and Response

Invision Power Services (IPS) Community Suite versions 4.1.19.2 and earlier contain a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows a moderator to gain administrator privileges.

Understanding CVE-2017-8898

This CVE involves a security issue in the Announcements feature of IPS Community Suite.

What is CVE-2017-8898?

The vulnerability in IPS Community Suite versions 4.1.19.2 and earlier enables a moderator to exploit a stored XSS vulnerability to escalate privileges to an administrator by manipulating the announce_content parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8898

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges within the IPS Community Suite, posing a significant security risk to the platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8898

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

Vulnerability Description

The stored XSS vulnerability in the Announcements feature of IPS Community Suite allows for privilege escalation from a moderator to an admin by manipulating the announce_content parameter in a specific request.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

The attack leverages the announce_content parameter in the index.php?/modcp/announcements/&action=create request
Specifically associated with the "<> Source" option

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-8898 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update IPS Community Suite to the latest version that includes a patch for the XSS vulnerability
Monitor and restrict moderator privileges to minimize the risk of privilege escalation

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and review user permissions and roles within the community platform
Educate moderators and administrators about the risks of XSS vulnerabilities and privilege escalation

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Invision Power Services to address the XSS vulnerability and prevent privilege escalation