CVE-2023-53880

Vulnerability

Overview

CVE-2023-53880 describes a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in Lucee 5.4.2.17, a lightweight CFML scripting engine. The vulnerability resides in administrative interface pages such as server.cfm and web.cfm. An authenticated attacker can inject malicious scripts through parameters processed by these pages. The root cause is insufficient neutralization of user-supplied input during page generation, a classic instance of CWE-79 [3].

Exploitation

Exploitation requires an authenticated session and the ability to craft a malicious URL. The attacker can embed a payload, such as `, within a parameter like msg or via POST data to actions like services.gateway` [2]. The victim must interact with the crafted link (e.g., be convinced to click it). The payload is then reflected back in the response, executing in the context of the victim's browser session. No special network position is needed; the attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity and low privileges required [3].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser. This can lead to session token theft, credential harvesting, or other actions the victim's session can perform. The impact is limited to the affected admin interface scope, affecting confidentiality and integrity in a low-manner as per the CVSS vector [3].

Mitigation

The vendor Lucee has not provided a public patch as of the advisory publication date; however, users should upgrade to the latest version beyond 5.4.2.17 [1]. As a workaround, restrict access to administrative interfaces and ensure users are wary of untrusted links. The vulnerability is listed in the Exploit Database, indicating proof-of-concept code is available [2].