CVE-2011-1401 in ikiwiki
Summary
by MITRE
ikiwiki before 3.20110328 does not ascertain whether the htmlscrubber plugin is enabled during processing of the "meta stylesheet" directive, which allows remote authenticated users to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via crafted Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) token sequences in (1) the default stylesheet or (2) an alternate stylesheet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1401 affects ikiwiki versions prior to 3.20110328 and represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness that exploits the improper handling of the htmlscrubber plugin during stylesheet directive processing. This flaw specifically manifests when the system processes the "meta stylesheet" directive without first verifying whether the htmlscrubber plugin has been enabled, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful code through carefully crafted CSS token sequences. The vulnerability impacts both default and alternate stylesheet configurations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across multiple presentation layers of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a failure in input validation and sanitization within the stylesheet processing pipeline. When ikiwiki encounters a meta stylesheet directive, it should verify the security state of the htmlscrubber plugin before proceeding with CSS token processing. However, the pre-3.20110328 versions bypass this crucial verification step, allowing authenticated users to manipulate CSS sequences that would normally be filtered or escaped. This oversight creates a path where malicious CSS code can be injected into the application's output, potentially executing arbitrary JavaScript in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws due to improper input validation, and demonstrates the classic pattern where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data leads to code execution vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1401 extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it enables attackers to leverage authenticated access to perform more sophisticated attacks. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, it represents a privilege escalation vector that could allow attackers to manipulate content, steal session cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites. The fact that both default and alternate stylesheets are affected means that the attack surface is broad, potentially compromising any page that relies on user-provided CSS styling. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, as the XSS payload could be used to create convincing phishing attacks or data exfiltration mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1401 primarily focus on upgrading to ikiwiki version 3.20110328 or later, which includes the necessary patch to properly verify the htmlscrubber plugin status before processing stylesheet directives. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as input sanitization at multiple layers, including the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and regular security audits of user-contributed content. Organizations using ikiwiki should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious CSS sequences, while ensuring that all user accounts are properly managed with appropriate access controls to minimize the potential damage from authenticated attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and the critical need to verify security plugin states during processing of user-supplied content.