Ruby on Rails Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Scanner

Ruby on Rails is an open-source web application framework written in Ruby. It is designed to make web development easier and faster by providing default structures for a database, a web service, and web pages. Primarily used by web developers, Ruby on Rails is known for its convention over configuration design philosophy. This framework is utilized to build powerful web applications with less code. It is popular among startups and established enterprises alike, due to its rapid development features. Additionally, it provides a tight-knit community that supports developers worldwide with extensive documentation and plugins.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability typically found in web applications. It allows malicious users to inject scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This vulnerability is dangerous as it can be exploited to execute arbitrary scripts in a user's browser, leading to information theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. XSS vulnerabilities usually occur when a web application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping. Such vulnerabilities are considered critical because they compromise the integrity and confidentiality of user information. When left unmitigated, they expose applications to potential attacks that can affect numerous users.

The vulnerability exploits a CRLF issue in Ruby on Rails 6.0.0 to 6.0.3.1, allowing JavaScript to be injected into HTTP responses. The specific endpoint that is vulnerable involves an error message related to ActiveRecord pending migrations. The payload demonstrates an XSS attack by including JavaScript in the location parameter of a URL. This causes the browser to execute the injected script, which can display alerts or perform more harmful operations. Successful exploitation depends on crafting a request that not only triggers the endpoint but also includes a malicious script in the response parameters.

If exploited, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized execution of scripts in a victim's browser. This can result in data theft, such as stealing session cookies or other sensitive information stored in the browser. Attackers could potentially impersonate users or escalate their privileges within the application. Additionally, this could be used as a platform for launching further attacks against application users. The trust users place in the affected site is also degraded, leading to potential reputational damage.

REFERENCES

• https://hackerone.com/reports/904059