CVE-2011-0613 in RoboHelp
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in RoboHelp 7 and 8, and RoboHelp Server 7 and 8, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related to (1) wf_status.htm and (2) wf_topicfs.htm in RoboHTML/WildFireExt/TemplateStock/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0613 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Adobe RoboHelp 7 and 8 applications along with RoboHelp Server 7 and 8 versions. This security flaw resides within the web-based user interface components of these documentation tools, specifically manifesting in the wf_status.htm and wf_topicfs.htm files located within the RoboHTML/WildFireExt/TemplateStock/ directory structure. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the affected web components. When processing user-supplied data through the web interface elements, the applications fail to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This inadequate sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of cross-site scripting attacks that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0613 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to establish persistent security threats within environments where these documentation tools are deployed. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or inject malicious content that persists across user sessions. In enterprise environments where RoboHelp is used for internal documentation systems, this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for broader network compromise. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because they exploit the web-based interfaces that are typically accessible to multiple users, potentially allowing for mass exploitation scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of vendor patches and updates, as Adobe would have released security fixes for these versions. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at network boundaries and consider web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. The remediation process involves not only updating the affected software versions but also conducting thorough security assessments of all web-based documentation tools within the environment. Additionally, security awareness training for developers and administrators can help prevent the introduction of similar vulnerabilities in custom web applications that might be integrated with or similar to the affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and malicious web content, demonstrating how such XSS vulnerabilities can be weaponized for broader attack chains.