CVE-2011-1062 in TaskFreak!
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in include/html/header.php in TaskFreak! 0.6.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sContext, (2) sort, (3) dir, and (4) show parameters in a save action to index.php; the (5) dir and (6) show parameters to print_list.php; and the (7) HTTP referer header to rss.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1062 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in TaskFreak! version 0.6.4, specifically within the include/html/header.php component. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious script injection, creating significant security risks for users who interact with the web-based task management system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content generation.
Multiple attack vectors exist within this vulnerability, each targeting different parameters across various application endpoints. The sContext, sort, dir, and show parameters in the index.php save action create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts when users perform save operations. Additionally, the print_list.php endpoint remains vulnerable through the dir and show parameters, while the rss.php script accepts malicious input through the HTTP referer header. These varied entry points significantly expand the potential attack surface and demonstrate poor input handling across the application's codebase. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the user interface rendering components where dynamic content is generated based on user input parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This capability allows for session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within compromised networks. Attackers could manipulate task lists, modify user permissions, or redirect users to malicious websites while maintaining persistence through the injected scripts. The vulnerability particularly affects users who have administrative privileges or access to sensitive task data, as these individuals represent high-value targets for exploitation. The XSS flaw can be leveraged to create persistent backdoors or to harvest session cookies, effectively compromising user authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied parameters. The primary defense involves sanitizing all input data through proper escaping techniques before rendering any dynamic content, following the principle of least privilege for input handling. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, while also ensuring that all user inputs undergo rigorous validation before being processed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to address such vulnerabilities promptly, while also conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components.