CVE-2011-1671 in Tracks
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in app/controllers/todos_controller.rb in Tracks 1.7.2, 2.0RC2, and 2.0devel allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to todos/tag/. 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-2011-1671 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Tracks application framework version 1.7.2, 2.0RC2, and 2.0devel. This security weakness resides in the todos_controller.rb file and specifically targets the application's handling of PATH_INFO parameters when processing requests to the todos/tag/ endpoint. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic input validation failure where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied PATH_INFO data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When an attacker crafts a malicious PATH_INFO parameter and directs it to the todos/tag/ endpoint, the application processes this input without adequate sanitization measures, allowing the injected script to execute in the victim's browser context. This represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and application security principles that mandate input validation and output encoding for all user-provided data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the application's context. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates through standard HTTP request parameters, making it easily exploitable without requiring elevated privileges or specialized tools. Users who interact with the affected Tracks application may unknowingly execute malicious code, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized access to personal information, and compromise of user accounts.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through malicious input injection. Organizations utilizing these specific versions of Tracks must implement immediate remediation measures including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of the application, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.