CVE-2010-4640 in XWiki Watch
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in XWiki Watch 1.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the rev parameter to (1) bin/viewrev/Main/WebHome and (2) bin/view/Blog, and the (3) register_first_name and (4) register_last_name parameters to bin/register/XWiki/Register. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4640 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting XWiki Watch 1.0, a web application framework that enables users to create and manage collaborative content. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions. The flaw manifests through multiple attack vectors including the rev parameter in viewrev/Main/WebHome and view/Blog endpoints, as well as register_first_name and register_last_name parameters in the registration process. These attack surfaces demonstrate a lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's parameter handling.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. The vulnerability specifically exploits the application's failure to sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to inject HTML or JavaScript code that executes in victims' browsers. The multiple affected endpoints suggest a systemic issue in the application's input processing architecture rather than isolated flaws, indicating that the development team failed to implement consistent security controls across the application's interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using XWiki Watch 1.0, as it can be exploited by attackers without requiring authentication or special privileges. The attack vectors target core application functionality including version history viewing and user registration, making the exploitation relatively straightforward and potentially widespread. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user sessions, data exfiltration, or the ability to manipulate content within the application. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially compromise the entire application's integrity and the confidentiality of user data stored within the system.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied parameters. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all input data using established libraries and frameworks that prevent script injection attacks, implementing proper content security policies, and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped before rendering. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version that addresses these specific XSS vulnerabilities, as the original version appears to lack proper security controls that would prevent such attacks from succeeding. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth security measures and maintaining up-to-date security practices in web applications.