Galaxy Cross-site Scripting

The Galaxy Project Galaxy version v14.10 contains a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability in Many templates used in the Galaxy server did not properly sanitize user's input, which would allow for cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. In this form of attack, a malicious person can create a URL which, when opened by a Galaxy user or administrator, would allow the malicious user to execute arbitrary Javascript. that can result in Arbitrary JavaScript code execution. This attack appear to be exploitable via The victim must interact with component on page witch contains injected JavaScript code.. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in v14.10.1, v15.01. (2018-06-26, CVE-2018-1000516)

Cross site scripting is an attack where a web page executes code that is injected by an adversary. It usually appears, when users input is presented. This attack can be used to impersonate a user, take over control of the session, or even steal API keys.

The attack can be executed e.g. when you application injects the request parameter directly into the HTML code of the page returned to the user:

https://server.com/confirmation?message=Transaction+Complete

what results in:

<span>Confirmation: Transaction Complete</span>

In that case the message can be modified to become a valid Javascript code, e.g.:

https://server.com/confirmation?message=<script>dangerous javascript code here</script>

and it will be executed locally by the user's browser with full access to the user's personal application/browser data:

<span>Confirmation: <script>dangerous javascript code here</script></span>