CVE-2011-0457 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in e107 0.7.22 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0457 affects e107 version 0.7.22 and earlier installations, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected web applications. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the e107 content management system, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected through unspecified vectors that bypass security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web page responses. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML code that gets executed when other users browse pages containing the injected content. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple entry points including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data inputs within the e107 framework. This broad attack surface increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user-generated content or interactive features.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0457 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate web page content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability can be exploited to create persistent XSS attacks that affect all users of the compromised application, making it a significant threat to user privacy and application integrity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access via credential theft, as attackers can use the XSS payload to capture user sessions or credentials. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potential lateral movement within network environments where the affected e107 application is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0457 require immediate application of security patches and updates to e107 versions that address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application to prevent malicious code injection, including the adoption of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution. The implementation of proper HTML escaping and sanitization routines for all user-controllable inputs represents a fundamental defense measure that aligns with OWASP Top Ten security recommendations. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase, while maintaining up-to-date security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls can further reduce the potential impact of successful XSS attacks by limiting the scope of damage that attackers can achieve within the compromised environment.