CVE-2009-0664 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Mahara 1.0.x before 1.0.11 and 1.1.x before 1.1.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the introduction field in a user profile or (2) an arbitrary text block in a user view.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0664 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Mahara learning management system version 1.0.x before 1.0.11 and 1.1.x before 1.1.3. This vulnerability resides in the user profile and view components of the platform, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests specifically through two distinct attack vectors that leverage the introduction field in user profiles and arbitrary text blocks within user views, both of which are commonly used features in educational platforms where users can customize their content and presentations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Mahara application's handling of user-generated content. When users enter data into the introduction field or create text blocks within their views, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the compromised content, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core functionality that is frequently used in educational environments where users trust the platform to display content safely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a profile introduction containing JavaScript that steals session cookies or redirects users to phishing sites designed to capture login credentials. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious code remains active until the affected profile or view is modified or deleted, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application fails to properly validate or escape user-provided data before including it in dynamically generated web pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to versions 1.0.11 and 1.1.3 respectively, which contain the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive output encoding for all user-generated content, particularly in fields that support rich text formatting. The principle of least privilege should be applied to user content validation, ensuring that only appropriate HTML tags are allowed while stripping or encoding potentially dangerous characters. Network-based solutions such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be considered replacements for proper code-level fixes. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all user input fields and implement automated scanning tools to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Mahara platform. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, emphasizing the importance of content validation in preventing unauthorized access through user-facing interfaces.