CVE-2011-2650 in Kiwi
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Kiwi before 3.74.2, as used in SUSE Studio 1.1 before 1.1.4, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted pattern name that is included in an RPM info display.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2650 represents a cross-site scripting flaw that existed in the Kiwi tooling framework prior to version 3.74.2, specifically impacting SUSE Studio 1.1 versions before 1.1.4. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the RPM information display functionality. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code by submitting a specially crafted pattern name that gets rendered in the RPM information display section of the application interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the Kiwi framework's pattern management system. When users create or import patterns for SUSE Studio, these patterns may contain metadata including names that are subsequently displayed in RPM information panels. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters in pattern names before rendering them in the web interface, creating an XSS vector that can be exploited by malicious actors.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector leverages the web application's trust in user input without proper validation, allowing an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The operational impact is significant as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the SUSE Studio platform by compromising the trust relationship between the application and its users.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the platform. Attackers can craft pattern names containing malicious JavaScript payloads that execute when other users view the RPM information display, potentially leading to full account compromise or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where SUSE Studio is used for system deployment and configuration management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Kiwi version 3.74.2 or later and SUSE Studio 1.1.4 or later to address the vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side sanitization of pattern names and other user-supplied data. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional defense-in-depth measure to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security assessments of web applications and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the SUSE Studio ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the potential for seemingly minor flaws to create significant security risks in complex software platforms.