This article is a part of our Vulnerability Database (back to index)
Cross-site Scripting occurrences in Office Online Server
A spoofing vulnerability exists when an Office Web Apps server does not properly sanitize a specially crafted request, aka 'Office Web Apps XSS Vulnerability'. (2020-07-14, CVE-2020-1442)
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Office Web Apps Server 2013 and Office Online Server fail to properly handle web requests, aka "Microsoft Office Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Online Server. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8245. (2018-06-14, CVE-2018-8247)
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>