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Cross-site Scripting occurrences in Openeye
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was identified in Apperta Foundation OpenEyes 3.5.1. Updating a patient's details allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Address1 parameter. This JavaScript then executes when the patient profile is loaded, which could be used in a XSS attack. (2022-04-06, CVE-2021-40374)
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>