Retool Cross-Site Scripting Scanner

Retool is a platform used by developers and companies for building internal tools quickly with minimal resources. Its extensive set of integrations and visual app development capability makes it a preferred choice for creating dashboards, admin panels, and other internal interfaces. Used by many organizations across various industries, it helps in automating workflows and managing data efficiently. The platform's flexibility allows developers to bring together disparate tools and data into a single interface. With features that support both non-coders and developers, it aims to significantly reduce the time taken to create intricate applications. Retool also offers on-premise and cloud-based solutions, catering to different security and deployment needs of organizations.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability typically found in web applications, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into content from otherwise trusted websites. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized actions such as cookie theft, account takeover, or unauthorized access to sensitive data. In the context of Retool, the XSS vulnerability is observed when the Image Proxy URL parameter is exploited. This occurs when input is insufficiently sanitized, leading to the execution of the injected script in the victim’s browser. Such vulnerabilities necessitate immediate attention due to their potential to harm user trust and data integrity. Effective mitigation involves ensuring that user inputs are properly escaped and validated.

The Retool SVG XSS vulnerability occurs via the Image Proxy URL parameter, where unsanitized input allows malicious scripts to execute. The vulnerability is triggered by sending a crafted SVG payload designed to exploit XSS. By examining the HTTP response, attackers can confirm their script execution when specific alert scripts, such as "alert('document.domain');", are triggered. The vulnerability is further characterized by the lack of an effective Content Security Policy (CSP) to block inline script execution. This weakness is exploited when an application serves dynamic user content that includes erroneous trust assumption in URL processing. It highlights the importance of both server-side input filtering and client-side protection mechanisms.

Exploiting this XSS vulnerability can have serious consequences, including the compromise of user accounts and sensitive information. Attackers could execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the user, allowing them to hijack sessions and impersonate users. Such an attack may result in unauthorized actions within Retool applications, leading to data leaks or tampering. The trustworthiness of the application could be undermined, impacting the organization's reputation. Moreover, an XSS attack could serve as a launch point for further attacks, like phishing, leveraging the trust existing between the victim and the application. Immediate remediation steps are necessary to prevent such potential exploits.

REFERENCES

• https://docs.retool.com/releases/edge/3.88#:~:text=Fixed%20an%20SVG%20XSS%20vulnerability%20by%20adding%20a%20CSP.%20(%2349381)