CVE-2011-1838 in TWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in TemplateLogin.pm in TWiki before 5.0.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the origurl parameter to a (1) view script or (2) login script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1838 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the TWiki web application platform, specifically within the TemplateLogin.pm component. This flaw exists in versions prior to 5.0.2 and exposes the system to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, particularly the origurl parameter, which is processed by both the view script and login script components of the TWiki framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the origurl parameter, which serves as a redirection mechanism within the TWiki authentication flow. When attackers submit malicious payloads through this parameter, the application incorporates the unvalidated input directly into web responses without proper encoding or sanitization. This creates an environment where arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code can be executed within the context of authenticated user sessions, effectively allowing attackers to hijack user sessions or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to TWiki installations as it enables attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of the platform. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects both the view and login scripts, meaning that malicious actors could potentially compromise user sessions during either the viewing or login phases of the application workflow. The vulnerability allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and potential privilege escalation within the TWiki environment, as the injected scripts can access and manipulate user sessions that have already been authenticated.
The security implications extend beyond simple XSS exploitation as this vulnerability can be leveraged to create more sophisticated attacks within the context of the ATT&CK framework. Specifically, this flaw aligns with techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through session manipulation. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web output, and more specifically relates to CWE-80, which addresses the improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page. Organizations using affected TWiki versions face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1838 should prioritize immediate patching of TWiki installations to version 5.0.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement robust input validation measures, including the use of proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied content, and establish comprehensive monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activity. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection, though the primary remediation involves updating the core application to eliminate the root cause of the vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to ensure no other components within their TWiki installations remain susceptible to similar cross-site scripting attacks.