CVE-2023–29489 in Much Marcle Parish Council GOV.UK Website: A Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

Introduction

Web vulnerabilities can pose significant risks to both website administrators and users. One such vulnerability, CVE-2023–29489, a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw, has been identified in the cPanel service of the Much Marcle Parish Council website (https://muchmarcleparishcouncil.gov.uk). This medium severity issue affects cPanel versions prior to 11.109.9999.116 and could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts, compromising user data and website integrity. In this blog, we’ll explore the vulnerability, its potential impact, steps to reproduce it, and actionable remediation strategies to secure the Much Marcle Parish Council website.

What is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users. This occurs when a website fails to properly sanitize or validate user inputs, enabling the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code. XSS attacks can lead to serious consequences, including:

• Session Hijacking: Attackers can steal session cookies to impersonate legitimate users.
• Data Theft: Sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal details, can be compromised.
• Website Defacement: Malicious scripts can alter the website’s appearance or redirect users to…