Blind Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in Zkteco BioTime
Severity: High
Description:
Zkteco BioTime is a popular time and attendance management software used by many organizations. The software provides an administrator interface that allows authorized users to perform various tasks, such as managing employees’ attendance, generating reports, and managing system settings.
However, Zkteco BioTime version < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447 has a blind cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited by employees to hijack an administrator session and cookies. This vulnerability occurs due to improper input validation in the software’s login page, which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts and steal sensitive information.
An attacker with a valid employee account can inject malicious JavaScript code into the login form’s username or password field. When an administrator logs in to the system, the attacker’s script is executed in the administrator’s browser, allowing the attacker to hijack the administrator’s session and access sensitive information. Additionally, the attacker can steal the administrator’s cookies and use them to bypass authentication and access the system as the administrator.
Impact: An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can gain full control over the Zkteco BioTime system, including sensitive employee data and attendance records. The attacker can modify attendance records, create false records, delete records, and perform other malicious activities that can result in significant financial losses or legal consequences. Additionally, the attacker can use the administrator’s credentials to access other systems and sensitive information, leading to a more severe security breach.
Affected Versions: Zkteco BioTime version < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447
Solution: The vendor has released a patch to address this vulnerability. Users of affected versions of Zkteco BioTime are advised to update to version 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447 or later as soon as possible.
Additionally, users are advised to implement the following best practices to mitigate the risk of blind cross-site scripting attacks:
- Implement input validation and sanitization in all user input fields
- Implement output encoding for all user-generated content
- Implement session management best practices, such as session expiration and cookie security flags
- Implement HTTPS encryption to prevent eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks
- Educate employees and system administrators on the risks of blind cross-site scripting attacks and how to identify and report suspicious activity
Conclusion:
Blind cross-site scripting vulnerabilities can have severe consequences for both users and organizations. The vulnerability in Zkteco BioTime version < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447 is a prime example of the risks associated with improper input validation and sanitization. Users are advised to update their software and implement best practices to mitigate the risk of blind cross-site scripting attacks.