CVE-2007-1939 in LanguageTool
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the embedded webserver in Daniel Naber LanguageTool before 0.8.9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors involving an error message, possibly the demultiplex method in HTTPServer.java.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2018
The CVE-2007-1939 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the embedded web server component of Daniel Naber LanguageTool versions prior to 089. This vulnerability resides within the HTTP server implementation specifically in the HTTPServer.java file where the demultiplex method processes incoming requests. The flaw manifests when the web server encounters error conditions and generates error messages that do not properly sanitize user input before rendering them in web responses. This allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who view these error messages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the embedded web server's error handling mechanism. When LanguageTool processes HTTP requests through its embedded server, the demultiplex method fails to adequately sanitize data that flows into error message generation. This creates an injection vector where malicious payloads can be embedded in request parameters or headers that are then reflected back to users in error responses. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as it involves the improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing arbitrary code execution in user browsers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web interfaces, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because LanguageTool's embedded web server is designed to be accessible over networks, making it susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers. The vulnerability affects any user who accesses the LanguageTool web interface, particularly when the tool is deployed in multi-user environments or networked configurations where error messages might be triggered by malicious input. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete compromise of user sessions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of LanguageTool to version 089 or later where the embedded web server properly sanitizes inputs before generating error messages. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the embedded web server, disable unnecessary web interfaces, and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices in the HTTP server component would prevent similar issues in future implementations. Regular security assessments of embedded web components in applications remain crucial for identifying and addressing similar injection vulnerabilities that could compromise user security and application integrity.