CVE-2011-4454 in Tiki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in Tiki 8.0 RC1 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path info to (1) tiki-remind_password.php, (2) tiki-index.php, (3) tiki-login_scr.php, or (4) tiki-index.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4454 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Tiki 8.0 RC1 and earlier versions. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of path information within specific PHP scripts, creating opportunities for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected users' browsers. The vulnerability impacts four distinct endpoints including tiki-remind_password.php, tiki-index.php, tiki-login_scr.php, and tiki-index, all of which fail to properly sanitize or validate input parameters derived from the path information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Tiki content management system. When attackers manipulate path information parameters passed to these specific scripts, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This fundamental flaw allows malicious payloads to be injected and subsequently executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit compromised pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication or special privileges from the attacker's perspective.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4454 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious domains. Given that Tiki is a widely used open-source content management system, the vulnerability affects numerous websites and organizations that rely on this platform for their web presence. The attack surface is particularly concerning as these vulnerable endpoints are commonly accessed during user authentication and navigation processes, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to attack techniques within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 category for scripting and T1531 for credential access through web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Tiki installations to version 8.0 or later where the XSS flaws have been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. Security headers including Content-Security-Policy should be implemented to provide additional protection against script injection attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation and output encoding practices are essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious path information patterns can provide defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts.