Reflected XSS on archive.eclipse.org
Reported on the ML:
Overview:
A reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability was identified on eclipse.org. This flaw allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the user's browser when the vulnerable URL is accessed. Reflected XSS can lead to a variety of attacks, including session hijacking, redirection to malicious websites, or unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim.
Vulnerability Details:
Vulnerability Type: Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Affected Domain: archive.eclipse.org
Description:
The vulnerable endpoint reflects unsanitized user input back into the webpage without proper encoding or sanitization. As a result, an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing a script that will be executed in the browser of any user who clicks the link. This allows the attacker to perform a wide range of malicious activities, including stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions, or redirecting the user to a phishing website.
Steps to Reproduce:
1- Go to the vulnerable URL: https://archive.eclipse.org/
2- Observe the script execution: The crafted payload will be reflected on the page, and the alert JavaScript function will be executed, demonstrating the XSS vulnerability.
Impact:
1. User Session Hijacking: Attackers can steal session cookies and impersonate the victim. This can allow unauthorized access to the victim's account and sensitive information.
2. Phishing Attacks: By injecting malicious JavaScript into a reflected XSS vulnerability, attackers can redirect users to malicious websites or present fake login forms to capture credentials, leading to phishing attacks.
3. Unauthorized Actions: The attacker can potentially perform actions on behalf of the victim by exploiting the XSS vulnerability. This could include unauthorized transactions or changes to user settings.
4. Data Theft: Sensitive information such as user details, tokens, or other credentials present in the page may be stolen and exfiltrated by the attacker through the execution of malicious scripts.
5. Malware Distribution: XSS can be used to inject scripts that load malware or exploit kits, potentially infecting the user's device with malicious software.
6. Website Defacement: Attackers may manipulate the content of the page displayed to users, altering the site’s appearance, embedding offensive content, or distributing misinformation.
7. Reputation Damage: Exploiting an XSS vulnerability can tarnish the reputation of the affected website. Users may lose trust in the platform, fearing their security is at risk.
8. Loss of Confidentiality: Private user data can be exposed, leading to violations of privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR).
9. Brand Exploitation: Attackers can exploit the trust users place in the affected website, using it as a platform to launch further attacks or impersonate the organization.
Recommendation for Mitigation:
Input Validation and Sanitization: Implement strict input validation to prevent the injection of HTML or JavaScript code. Reject any input that contains suspicious characters or symbols.
Output Encoding: Encode all user input that is reflected on the webpage to ensure that it is displayed as plain text rather than executed as HTML or JavaScript.
Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement a strong Content Security Policy (CSP) to limit the execution of inline scripts and external resources.
Security Headers: Enable security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff, X-Frame-Options: deny, and X-XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block to mitigate the impact of XSS vulnerabilities.