CVE-2011-4312 in Review Board
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the commenting system in Review Board before 1.5.7 and 1.6.x before 1.6.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving the (1) diff viewer or (2) screenshot component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The CVE-2011-4312 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Review Board commenting system that affected versions prior to 1.5.7 and 1.6.x before 1.6.3. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user input within its code review and commenting interfaces, specifically targeting the diff viewer and screenshot component functionalities. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the integrity of the code review process and exposing sensitive user data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Review Board application's commenting subsystem. When users submit comments or interact with code diffs and screenshots, the application fails to properly sanitize user-provided content before rendering it in the browser context. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code through carefully crafted input vectors. The vulnerability manifests in two primary attack surfaces: the diff viewer component where code changes are displayed and the screenshot component that handles image uploads and annotations. Both pathways accept user input without proper encoding or validation, creating exploitable entry points for XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of collaborative code review platforms. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. In the context of code review systems, this threat is particularly concerning as it could enable attackers to inject malicious code into the review process itself, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire codebase. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but the collective security posture of development teams relying on Review Board for collaborative code review activities, as compromised user sessions could provide access to sensitive source code repositories and development environments.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Review Board should prioritize immediate remediation through official security patches released by the development team. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of web application attacks. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input sanitization mechanisms, adopting Content Security Policy headers, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in collaborative development environments where multiple users interact with shared code review systems.