CVE-2024-38503
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to inject HTML tags into text fields in Apache Syncope's Console and Enduser interfaces. When exploited, it enables cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks that could compromise user sessions or deface interfaces. All users of affected Syncope versions are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Apache Syncope
📦 What is this software?
Syncope by Apache
Syncope by Apache
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, hijack user sessions, perform actions as authenticated users, or deploy malware through the compromised interface.
Likely Case
Session hijacking, credential theft, or interface defacement through stored XSS payloads in user/group data.
If Mitigated
Limited to interface manipulation with no data compromise if proper input validation and output encoding are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated access to edit user/group objects or personal information.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.0.8
Vendor Advisory: https://syncope.apache.org/security#cve-2024-38503-html-tags-can-be-injected-into-console-or-enduser
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Apache Syncope 3.0.8 from official sources. 2. Backup current configuration and data. 3. Stop Syncope services. 4. Replace with patched version. 5. Restart services. 6. Verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allImplement web application firewall or input validation to strip HTML tags from user inputs
Content Security Policy
allImplement strict CSP headers to mitigate XSS impact
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict access to Syncope interfaces to trusted networks only
- Implement strong authentication and monitor for unusual editing activity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if Syncope version is below 3.0.8 by examining version files or admin interfaceCheck Version:
Check syncope-core version in pom.xml or via admin interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
After upgrade, attempt to inject HTML tags into text fields and verify they are properly sanitized📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual HTML/script patterns in user edit logs
- Multiple rapid edits to user/group objects
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing script tags in POST data to edit endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="syncope" AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")🔗 References
- https://syncope.apache.org/security#cve-2024-38503-html-tags-can-be-injected-into-console-or-enduser
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/07/22/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/07/22/3
- https://syncope.apache.org/security#cve-2024-38503-html-tags-can-be-injected-into-console-or-enduser
