CVE-2011-2771 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Mahara before 1.4.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to (1) URI attributes and (2) the External Feed component, as demonstrated by the guid element in an RSS feed.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2771 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Mahara learning management system prior to version 1.4.1. This vulnerability exposes the platform to remote code execution through malicious web script injection, creating significant security risks for educational institutions and organizations relying on the system for content management and user interaction. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that exploit different components of the Mahara application architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Mahara platform. Attackers can exploit the first vector by manipulating URI attributes in ways that bypass existing security filters, while the second vector targets the External Feed component specifically through the guid element in RSS feeds. Both attack paths demonstrate a fundamental weakness in the application's data sanitization processes, where user-supplied content flows directly into web responses without proper contextual encoding. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated user sessions. This creates opportunities for session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation attacks that can compromise entire user bases within affected institutions. The attack surface is particularly concerning because RSS feed components are commonly used for content aggregation and external resource integration, making the vulnerability accessible through legitimate system functionality. Security researchers have documented how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged for persistent threats that maintain access over extended periods, as noted in various ATT&CK framework mappings for initial access and persistence techniques.
Organizations implementing mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.4.1 or later, which addresses the core validation flaws in both URI attribute handling and RSS feed processing. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation at multiple layers, deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, and establishing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing all input channels within web applications, particularly those involving external data feeds and URI parsing, as highlighted in industry best practices for secure coding and application security testing.