CVE-2023-33971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A stored cross-site scripting vulnerability was discovered in the Formcreator plugin with a base severity of MEDIUM. This vulnerability, assigned CVE-2023-33971, affects versions <= 2.13.5 of Formcreator.

Understanding CVE-2023-33971

Formcreator, a GLPI plugin used for creating custom forms and tickets, is vulnerable to stored XSS via the use of

##FULLFORM##

for rendering forms. This can allow for arbitrary JavaScript code execution in an admin/tech context.

What is CVE-2023-33971?

The CVE-2023-33971 vulnerability in Formcreator plugin allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, leading to potential security risks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-33971

The presence of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized execution of scripts, posing a risk of sensitive data exposure and unauthorized operations within the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-33971

The following details highlight the vulnerability and its impact:

Vulnerability Description

Formcreator plugin, versions <= 2.13.5, is susceptible to stored cross-site scripting due to the improper handling of input data during web page generation, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Formcreator versions <= 2.13.5 are affected by this vulnerability, potentially exposing systems to malicious attacks leveraging stored XSS techniques.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the use of

##FULLFORM##

in Formcreator for rendering, allowing threat actors to insert malicious scripts into the web application and execute them in the context of an admin/tech user.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2023-33971 involves taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices:

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid using

##FULLFORM##

in Formcreator until a patch is available.
Implement regular expressions to filter out

<

,

>

, and

"

characters in all form fields to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Formcreator to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities and ensure a secure environment.

Patching and Updates

Keep monitoring for the availability of a patch to address the stored XSS vulnerability in Formcreator, and apply it promptly upon release.