An issue was discovered in REDCap 14.9.6. It allows HTML Injection via the Survey field name, exposing users to a redirection to a phishing website. An attacker can exploit this to trick the user that receives the survey into clicking on the field name, which redirects them to a phishing website. Thus, this allows malicious actions to be executed without user consent.
The vulnerability has been classified with a CVSS score of 4.7, indicating a medium severity level. It is crucial for organizations to understand that this vulnerability can potentially lead to significant risks, especially in environments where users receive surveys frequently.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for users to be redirected to phishing sites, which could lead to credential theft or other malicious activities. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, no public exploit has been confirmed, and the vulnerability is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the risk remains, and organizations should address this vulnerability in their security posture.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows HTML injection through the Survey field name in REDCap 14.9.6, which could lead to phishing attacks. The CVSS score of 4.7 reflects a medium severity based on its potential impact. The attack vector is classified as network-based, requiring low complexity and no privileges, but necessitating user interaction.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user input in the Survey field name. Attackers can exploit this weakness through a crafted survey link that redirects users to phishing sites.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring user interaction to trigger the exploit. The complexity is low, as no specific privileges are needed to exploit this vulnerability. The potential impacts include low integrity and no confidentiality or availability impacts.
Risk & Impact Analysis
In real-world deployments, the risk associated with this vulnerability is notable, especially for organizations that utilize REDCap for survey distribution. The possibility of users being misled into clicking malicious links poses significant threats.
The blast radius for this vulnerability could extend beyond individual users, potentially compromising organizational integrity and data security. Given the CVSS score and the current threat landscape, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected product is REDCap version 14.9.6. Organizations should ensure that they are running this version or later to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update REDCap to the latest version to remediate this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing input validation and sanitization measures to mitigate the risk of HTML injection. Additionally, conducting a thorough security assessment can help identify similar weaknesses and ensure the integrity of survey systems.
For further assistance, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing services to validate the effectiveness of their remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual redirects or user interactions with survey links. Behavioral anomalies in user activity, especially in conjunction with survey distributions, should be scrutinized.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability illustrates the ongoing challenges organizations face in securing user-facing applications. The potential for HTML injection can lead to serious consequences, including data breaches and compromised user data. Organizations are encouraged to implement stringent security measures and regularly evaluate their security posture.
To enhance application security, organizations can refer to our application security assessment practices, which provide insights into preventing similar vulnerabilities in the future.
For further reading on managing vulnerabilities effectively, consider our blog on vulnerability management programs and understanding the evolving threat landscape.
Lastly, organizations should stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities by following our updates on penetration testing methodologies to better prepare for potential attacks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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