Name: VelocityJS Scanner

VelocityJS is a widely used JavaScript library for UI/UX enhancement through animations and transitions, utilized by front-end developers in web applications to create seamless and interactive user experiences. Being open-source, it is embraced by a variety of individual developers, organizations, and enterprises for its versatile animation capabilities. Despite its effectiveness in animating web interfaces, its integration without secure practices can expose applications to significant vulnerabilities. VelocityJS's features are prominently utilized in client-heavy applications, ranging from simple websites to complex single-page applications. The availability of plugins and extensions also makes it a flexible tool for diverse web development needs. However, its popularity also necessitates vigilance in maintaining updated versions to avoid vulnerability exploits.

Server Side Template Injection (SSTI) occurs when user input is unsafely injected into templates on the server side, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability can be highly critical, as it enables the attacker to take control over server processes, potentially leading to unauthorized access to data or system compromise. In VelocityJS versions such as 2.0.6, SSTI can be triggered through improper validation of user inputs. Attackers typically exploit SSTI by sending payloads through injections that the server executes, thus leveraging the server's environment in their favor. Identifying and mitigating SSTI is crucial, given its capacity to undermine application logic and data integrity. The dynamic nature of templates, if not securely configured, makes them a prime target for exploitation.

The vulnerability within VelocityJS 2.0.6 lies in the insufficient sanitization of template inputs, where an external input influences the rendering logic. This particular SSTI vulnerability allows adversaries to exploit VelocityJS by crafting payloads that invoke server-side commands and compromise server security. By using template expressions, attackers can manipulate and inject commands into the rendering engine, enabling execution in the server context. The vulnerable endpoint is typically exposed through web-facing components, handling GET requests that process user inputs. This vulnerability is a classic case of injection flaws, where untrusted input is misunderstood as code by the execution environment. Preventative measures include rigorous input validation and context-aware encoding.

If an SSTI vulnerability like this is exploited, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive application components or data, leading to data exfiltration or service disruptions. The execution of arbitrary server-side code could escalate privileges and potentially modify application logic undetected. Exploiting this vulnerability might allow persistent access to the system, where malicious payloads can be executed as part of legitimate processes. It could result in data loss, unauthorized data manipulation, or even full system compromise depending on the underlying permissions. The systemic impact of such an exploitation necessitates immediate remediation to safeguard against further security breaches.

REFERENCES

• https://www.npmjs.com/package/velocityjs
• https://medium.com/@0xAwali/template-engines-injection-101-4f2fe59e5756