CVE-2011-3352 in Zikula
Summary
by MITRE
Zikula 1.3.0 build #3168 and probably prior has XSS flaw due to improper sanitization of the 'themename' parameter by setting default, modifying and deleting themes. A remote attacker with Zikula administrator privilege could use this flaw to execute arbitrary HTML or web script code in the context of the affected website.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3352 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Zikula content management system version 1.3.0 build #3168 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data when processing theme-related operations. The flaw specifically affects the handling of the 'themename' parameter during three critical administrative functions: setting default themes, modifying existing themes, and deleting themes. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization, creating opportunities for malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators interact with the theme management interface, particularly when performing operations that involve theme names or identifiers. Attackers with administrative privileges can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious theme names containing embedded script code or HTML elements that will be executed in the browser context of other users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, as the flaw specifically targets administrative functions rather than public-facing user interfaces. This privilege escalation requirement does not mitigate the severity of the issue, as administrative accounts are typically more valuable targets and can provide attackers with extensive control over the affected website.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3352 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it enables attackers to potentially perform session hijacking, deface the website, steal sensitive administrative information, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability affects the entire Zikula platform's theme management functionality and can compromise the integrity of the website's presentation layer, potentially leading to broader system compromise if attackers can leverage the executed scripts to gain additional privileges or access other system components. This flaw represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Zikula for their web presence, particularly those with less robust security monitoring and incident response capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates that address the improper input sanitization. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side validation of theme names and other administrative parameters. The implementation of content security policies and proper output encoding techniques can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative activities and validation of theme-related operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access, as attackers can use the executed scripts to establish persistent access or exfiltrate sensitive information. The vulnerability also relates to privilege escalation techniques since it requires administrative access but enables further compromise of the system through the executed malicious code.