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Cross-site Scripting occurrences in Netbiblio
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search functionality of AlCoda NetBiblio WebOPAC allows an unauthenticated user to craft a reflected Cross-Site Scripting attack. This issue affects: AlCoda NetBiblio WebOPAC versions prior to 4.0.0.320; versions later than 4.0.0.328. This issue does not affect: AlCoda NetBiblio WebOPAC version 4.0.0.335 and later versions. (2022-01-14, CVE-2021-42551)
Why Cross-site Scripting can be dangerous
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>