CVE-2019-17491 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Jiangnan Online Judge (jnoj) version 0.8.0 is susceptible to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks through specific parameters, potentially leading to security breaches.

Understanding CVE-2019-17491

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Jiangnan Online Judge platform that could allow attackers to execute XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2019-17491?

The Jiangnan Online Judge, also known as jnoj, version 0.8.0, is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks through the "Problem[description]" parameter when accessing certain pages.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17491

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential compromise of user information on the affected platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17491

Jiangnan Online Judge (jnoj) version 0.8.0 is affected by a specific XSS vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in jnoj version 0.8.0 occurs due to inadequate input validation on the "Problem[description]" parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jiangnan Online Judge (jnoj)
Version: 0.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the "Problem[description]" parameter on the "web/admin/problem/create" or "web/polygon/problem/update" pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-17491.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the affected pages temporarily if possible.
Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user inputs.
Regularly monitor and audit user-generated content for malicious scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by the Jiangnan Online Judge platform to address this vulnerability.