Addressing CVE-2024-9300: Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in SourceCodester Online Railway Reservation System
Introduction
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system identified a new vulnerability, CVE-2024-9300, affecting the SourceCodester Online Railway Reservation System version 1.0. This article aims to delve into the details of this vulnerability and provide comprehensive mitigation steps to protect your systems.
Understanding CVE-2024-9300
Title: SourceCodester Online Railway Reservation System Message Us Form (contact_us.php) Cross-Site Scripting
CWE ID: 79 (Cross-Site Scripting)
Published Date: September 28, 2024
CVSS v4.0 Base Score: 6.9 (Medium)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
This vulnerability resides in the Message Us Form component of the contact_us.php file, where the manipulation of the fullname, email, and message arguments results in cross-site scripting (XSS). According to the CVE details, this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and can be exploited remotely.
Impact
If exploited, this XSS vulnerability can allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into webpages viewed by other users. The potential impact includes:
- Unauthorized access to sensitive information
- Session hijacking
- Defacement of web content
- Phishing attacks
Mitigation Strategies
Mitigating CVE-2024-9300 requires a comprehensive approach to ensure the security of the affected system:
- Input Validation: Ensure that all user inputs are properly validated. Implement input validation techniques using allow-lists to accept only known good data.
- Output Encoding: Encode user input before rendering it in the browser to prevent execution of malicious scripts. Use frameworks and libraries that automatically handle output encoding, such as OWASP's Java Encoder.
- Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement CSP headers to restrict the sources of content that can be loaded, minimizing the risk of script injection.
- Regular Updates: Keep the system and all its components up-to-date with the latest security patches. Regularly monitor security advisories from the vendor, SourceCodester.
- Security Testing: Conduct regular security testing, including automated web vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing, to identify and remediate security issues proactively.
Conclusion
In summary, CVE-2024-9300 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects the SourceCodester Online Railway Reservation System version 1.0. Recognizing the potential impact and employing robust security measures can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. By adhering to the outlined mitigation strategies, organizations can protect their systems and maintain the integrity of their web applications.
For detailed technical information on this vulnerability, refer to the following sources:
