CVE-2019-6588 : Security Advisory and Response

Liferay Portal version before 7.1 CE GA4 has a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the SimpleCaptcha API.

Understanding CVE-2019-6588

This CVE involves a specific XSS vulnerability in Liferay Portal version prior to 7.1 CE GA4.

What is CVE-2019-6588?

This vulnerability arises when unfiltered input is introduced through the "url" parameter of the JSP taglib call <liferay-ui:captcha url="<%= url %>" /> or <liferay-captcha:captcha url="<%= url %>" /> in Liferay Portal.

The Impact of CVE-2019-6588

The default setup of Liferay Portal, without any modifications, is not susceptible to this XSS vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-6588

Liferay Portal version before 7.1 CE GA4 is affected by this XSS vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability occurs due to unsanitized input in the "url" parameter of specific JSP taglib calls.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Liferay Portal
Vendor: Liferay
Versions affected: All versions before 7.1 CE GA4

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by injecting malicious scripts through the mentioned JSP taglib calls.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate action and implementing long-term security measures are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by Liferay to address this vulnerability.
Ensure input validation and sanitization practices are in place.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Liferay Portal to mitigate potential security risks.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Liferay and promptly apply patches to secure your system.