CVE-2011-2510 in DokuWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the RSS embedding feature in DokuWiki before 2011-05-25a Rincewind allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2021
The CVE-2011-2510 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in DokuWiki's RSS embedding functionality prior to the 2011-05-25a Rincewind release. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector that exploits improper input validation within the wiki's content rendering system. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers through carefully crafted malicious links embedded within RSS feeds that the wiki system processes and displays.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input when processing RSS feed content that contains hyperlinks. When DokuWiki encounters RSS feeds with embedded links, it fails to properly validate or escape the URL parameters before rendering them in the browser context. Attackers can craft malicious RSS feeds containing specially formatted URLs with embedded JavaScript payloads or HTML code that gets executed when users view the RSS content within the wiki interface. This occurs because the wiki's RSS embedding feature directly incorporates external link data without adequate security filtering or output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2510 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. Since DokuWiki is commonly used for collaborative documentation and knowledge management, compromised systems could lead to unauthorized access to confidential business information, intellectual property, or sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wikis serve as central repositories for internal documentation and communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to the 2011-05-25a Rincewind release or later versions that contain proper input validation and output encoding for RSS feed processing. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate all external content before rendering, employ proper HTML escaping techniques for dynamic content, and consider implementing content security policies to restrict script execution. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of wiki systems and establish monitoring protocols for detecting unauthorized RSS feed modifications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access through malicious RSS feeds and demonstrates the importance of validating external data sources in web applications.