REDAXO: Stored XSS in Mediapool Sync Page via Unescaped Filesystem Filenames
The advisory, in context
Summary
The mediapool sync page (sync.php) renders filenames from the /media filesystem directory directly into HTML without applying rex_escape() (i.e., htmlspecialchars). Any file placed in the media directory whose filename contains HTML metacharacters will execute JavaScript in the browser of any backend user who views the sync page.
Details
In redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php, the variable $diffFiles is populated from actual filesystem filenames (files in /media/ not yet registered in the database). These filenames are then rendered without escaping:
File: redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php:119-120
foreach ($diffFiles as $file) {
if (is_writable(rex_path::media($file))) {
$e = [];
$e['label'] = '<label>' . $file . '</label>'; // NO rex_escape!
$e['field'] = '<input type="checkbox" name="sync_files[]" value="' . $file . '" />'; // NO rex_escape!
$writable[] = $e;
} else {
$notWritable[] = $file;
}
}
File: redaxo/src/addons/mediapool/pages/sync.php:170
$fragment->setVar('body', '<ul><li>' . implode('</li><li>', $notWritable) . '</li></ul>', false);
// $notWritable contains unescaped filenames
By contrast, all other filename displays in the codebase use rex_escape($fname) (e.g., media.detail.php:236, media.list.php). The sync page is accessible to any backend user with the media[sync] permission (not exclusively admins).
PoC
- Place a file named
<img src=x onerror=alert(document.cookie)>.txtinto the REDAXO/media/directory (via backup restore or server access) without adding it to the media database. - Log in as any backend user with
media[sync]permission. - Navigate to Mediapool → Sync.
- The XSS payload executes immediately, stealing the admin session cookie.
Impact
Stored XSS in the admin panel. An attacker who can place files in the media directory (via admin-level backup restore or server access) can achieve persistent XSS against all users who visit the sync page, including higher-privileged admins. This enables session hijacking, credential theft, and full CMS takeover.
Fix
Apply rex_escape() to all filename variables before inserting into HTML:
$e['label'] = '<label>' . rex_escape($file) . '</label>';
$e['field'] = '<input type="checkbox" name="sync_files[]" value="' . rex_escape($file) . '" />';
// ...
$fragment->setVar('body', '<ul><li>' . implode('</li><li>', array_map('rex_escape', $notWritable)) . '</li></ul>', false);
Affected packages
Start with the recorded fix for your release branch. Check your installed version and test compatibility before upgrading. Fixing this advisory does not rule out other vulnerabilities in the release.
Earlier releases before 5.21.2
Fixed in 5.21.2
44 explicitly affected versions
5.10.0, 5.10.0-beta1, 5.10.0-beta2, 5.10.1, 5.11.0, 5.11.0-beta1, 5.11.1, 5.11.2, 5.12.0, 5.12.0-beta1, 5.12.0-beta2, 5.12.0-beta3, 5.12.1, 5.13.0, 5.13.0-beta1, 5.13.0-beta2, 5.13.1, 5.13.2, 5.13.3, 5.14.0, 5.14.0-beta1, 5.14.0-beta2, 5.14.1, 5.14.2, 5.14.3, 5.15.0, 5.15.0-beta1, 5.15.1, 5.16.0, 5.16.0-beta1, 5.16.1, 5.17.0, 5.17.1, 5.18.0, 5.18.1, 5.18.2, 5.18.3, 5.19.0, 5.20.0, 5.20.1, 5.20.2, 5.21.0, 5.21.0-beta1, 5.21.1
View affected-version evidence
{
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "5.21.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"5.10.0",
"5.10.0-beta1",
"5.10.0-beta2",
"5.10.1",
"5.11.0",
"5.11.0-beta1",
"5.11.1",
"5.11.2",
"5.12.0",
"5.12.0-beta1",
"5.12.0-beta2",
"5.12.0-beta3",
"5.12.1",
"5.13.0",
"5.13.0-beta1",
"5.13.0-beta2",
"5.13.1",
"5.13.2",
"5.13.3",
"5.14.0",
"5.14.0-beta1",
"5.14.0-beta2",
"5.14.1",
"5.14.2",
"5.14.3",
"5.15.0",
"5.15.0-beta1",
"5.15.1",
"5.16.0",
"5.16.0-beta1",
"5.16.1",
"5.17.0",
"5.17.1",
"5.18.0",
"5.18.1",
"5.18.2",
"5.18.3",
"5.19.0",
"5.20.0",
"5.20.1",
"5.20.2",
"5.21.0",
"5.21.0-beta1",
"5.21.1"
]
}