CVE-2007-6526 in TikiWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in tiki-special_chars.php in TikiWiki before 1.9.9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the area_name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6526 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within TikiWiki's tiki-special_chars.php component prior to version 1.9.9. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input through the area_name parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern that has been documented under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and output sanitization within the tiki-special_chars.php script. When users provide data through the area_name parameter without adequate filtering, the application fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This omission allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser when the affected page is rendered, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widespread impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the targeted web application. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML elements that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute code within their browser context. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on JavaScript execution within web browsers. The vulnerability can be exploited to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate the application's functionality to perform unauthorized actions, particularly affecting users who have administrative privileges within the TikiWiki system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6526 should prioritize immediate patching of affected TikiWiki installations to version 1.9.9 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data, particularly parameters like area_name that are processed by the special characters handling script. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit XSS vulnerabilities, while regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input handling flaws in other components of the application. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.