GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8: Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves simplesamlphp reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.17.3.

GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp fixed: 1.17.3
Upgrade simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp to 1.17.3
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8, inspect your project dependencies for Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp:

inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.17.3), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Background SimpleSAMLphp uses metadata to determine how to interact with other SAML entities. This metadata includes what’s called endpoints, which are URLs belonging to that entity where SAML messages can be sent. These URLs are used directly by SimpleSAMLphp when a message is sent, either via an HTTP redirection or by automatically posting a form to them. ### Description When sending a SAML message to another entity, SimpleSAMLphp will use the URL of the appropriate endpoint to redirect the user’s browser to it, or craft a form that will be automatically posted to it, depending on the SAML binding used. The URL that’s target of the message is fetched from the stored metadata for the given entity, and that metadata is trusted as correct. However, if that metadata has been altered by a malicious party (either an attacker or a rogue administrator) to substitute the URLs of the endpoints with javascript code, SimpleSAMLphp was blindly using them without any validation, trusting the contents of the metadata. This would lead to a reflected XSS where the javascript code is sent inline to the web browser, and if SimpleSAMLphp is not using a strict Content Security Policy to forbid inline javascript (which is the case of the default user interface), then the code will be executed in the end user’s browser. ### Affected versions All SimpleSAMLphp versions are affected, up to 1.17.2. ### Impact If metadata is consumed for a rogue entity that includes javascript code in the corresponding endpoints, this javascript code might be run by users trying to access this entity. Even though it’s unlikely that an administrator would add metadata for an entity that contains such endpoints inadvertently, if metadata is consumed automatically (e.g. using metarefresh) it would be easier to have an scenario like the one described here if a SAML entity is compromised and its metadata modified. The severity is assessed as medium given the difficulty to exploit the issue.

GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 Affected Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.17.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp
Packagist
≥ 1.12.0
< 1.17.3
1.17.3

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8?
GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 is a security vulnerability in Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp involving SimpleSAMLphp Reflected Cross-site Scripting vulnerability under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.17.3 across affected packages: simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp.
What version fixes GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8?
Upgrading to 1.17.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp affected?
Yes, simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp is affected in releases prior to 1.17.3. Upgrade your dependency to 1.17.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8?
GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8?
GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-vpr3-cw3h-prw8",
  "modified" : "2024-05-28T20:55:51Z",
  "published" : "2024-05-28T20:55:51Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "SimpleSAMLphp Reflected Cross-site Scripting vulnerability",
  "details" : "### Background\nSimpleSAMLphp uses metadata to determine how to interact with other SAML entities. This metadata includes what’s called endpoints, which are URLs belonging to that entity where SAML messages can be sent. These URLs are used directly by SimpleSAMLphp when a message is sent, either via an HTTP redirection or by automatically posting a form to them.\n\n### Description\nWhen sending a SAML message to another entity, SimpleSAMLphp will use the URL of the appropriate endpoint to redirect the user’s browser to it, or craft a form that will be automatically posted to it, depending on the SAML binding used. The URL that’s target of the message is fetched from the stored metadata for the given entity, and that metadata is trusted as correct.\n\nHowever, if that metadata has been altered by a malicious party (either an attacker or a rogue administrator) to substitute the URLs of the endpoints with javascript code, SimpleSAMLphp was blindly using them without any validation, trusting the contents of the metadata. This would lead to a reflected XSS where the javascript code is sent inline to the web browser, and if SimpleSAMLphp is not using a strict Content Security Policy to forbid inline javascript (which is the case of the default user interface), then the code will be executed in the end user’s browser.\n\n### Affected versions\nAll SimpleSAMLphp versions are affected, up to 1.17.2.\n\n### Impact\nIf metadata is consumed for a rogue entity that includes javascript code in the corresponding endpoints, this javascript code might be run by users trying to access this entity.\n\nEven though it’s unlikely that an administrator would add metadata for an entity that contains such endpoints inadvertently, if metadata is consumed automatically (e.g. using metarefresh) it would be easier to have an scenario like the one described here if a SAML entity is compromised and its metadata modified.\n\nThe severity is assessed as medium given the difficulty to exploit the issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.12.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.17.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/commit/ce2294e092b3be7db2fc4e18e774b791d4564ff3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp/2019-07-10.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/simplesamlphp/simplesamlphp"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://simplesamlphp.org/security/201907-01"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-05-28T20:55:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}