CVE-2010-4642 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in XWiki Enterprise before 2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4642 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in XWiki Enterprise versions prior to 2.5, constituting a significant security risk for web applications that rely on this platform for content management and collaboration. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a classic example of an XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the XWiki Enterprise framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors, which then get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access affected pages. The lack of proper sanitization of user-supplied input allows malicious payloads to persist in the application's database or session storage, where they are later rendered to unsuspecting users. This creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the application environment. When users interact with compromised pages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to complete account compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malware. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that host public-facing wikis or collaborative platforms. This vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as it provides initial access that can be leveraged to escalate privileges or move laterally within the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to XWiki Enterprise version 2.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing comprehensive web application firewalls, deploying content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Security teams should also consider implementing automated monitoring for suspicious script injections and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to address XSS vulnerabilities in collaborative platforms.