CVE-2011-4340 in Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Symphony CMS 2.2.3 and possibly other versions before 2.2.4 allow remote authenticated users with Author privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the profile parameter to extensions/profiledevkit/content/content.profile.php, as demonstrated via requests to (a) the default URI, (b) about/, or (c) drafts/; or (2) the filter parameter in symphony/lib/core/class.symphony.php, as demonstrated via requests to (d) symphony/publish/comments or (e) symphony/publish/images. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4340 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Symphony CMS version 2.2.3 and potentially earlier versions, before the release of 2.2.4. This security weakness specifically targets authenticated users who possess Author privileges, creating a significant risk for web applications that rely on this content management system. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within different file components of the CMS framework.
The first exploitation path involves the profile parameter within the extensions/profiledevkit/content/content.profile.php file, where malicious input can be injected through requests made to various URI endpoints including the default URI, about/, and drafts/. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The second attack vector targets the filter parameter in symphony/lib/core/class.symphony.php, enabling malicious script injection through requests to symphony/publish/comments or symphony/publish/images endpoints. Both attack scenarios demonstrate how improperly sanitized user input can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent security risk for the entire user base.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers with Author privileges to potentially escalate their access within the application. When authenticated users with sufficient privileges can inject malicious scripts, they create opportunities for session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation. The attack surfaces present in both the profile management and filtering functionality suggest that the vulnerability affects core application components that handle user data and content presentation. This weakness allows attackers to execute malicious code in the context of other users' sessions, potentially leading to complete compromise of user accounts and unauthorized access to sensitive content management features.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through cross-site scripting attacks. The fact that these issues affect multiple URI endpoints indicates that the vulnerability exists within fundamental input sanitization processes rather than isolated components. Organizations using Symphony CMS versions prior to 2.2.4 should prioritize immediate patching to address both attack vectors, as the combination of authenticated access and XSS capabilities creates a particularly dangerous threat scenario. The remediation process should involve comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in profile management and content filtering functions. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and regular security assessments can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future application versions.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of secure coding practices in content management systems, where user input handling directly affects application security. The presence of XSS flaws in authentication-sensitive components particularly emphasizes the need for robust input validation at multiple layers of application architecture. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter usage patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also demonstrates how seemingly minor input handling issues can create significant security risks when combined with authenticated user access, reinforcing the principle that all user-supplied data must be treated as potentially malicious until properly validated and sanitized.