CVE-2011-4455 in Tiki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in Tiki 7.2 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path info to (1) tiki-admin_system.php, (2) tiki-pagehistory.php, (3) tiki-removepage.php, or (4) tiki-rename_page.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2011-4455 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Tiki 7.2 and earlier versions, specifically targeting four administrative and content management scripts within the web application. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of path information parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of users' browsers. The affected files include tiki-admin_system.php, tiki-pagehistory.php, tiki-removepage.php, and tiki-rename_page.php, all of which process user-supplied path information without adequate sanitization or input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, specifically manifesting as a cross-site scripting attack vector.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious path information parameters and injects them into the targeted scripts. The application fails to properly escape or validate these parameters before rendering them in the web response, allowing attacker-controlled content to be executed as part of the page's HTML output. This creates a persistent threat where any user visiting a compromised page could be subjected to malicious script execution, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets administrative functions, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or manipulate system configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with significant control over the affected Tiki application's functionality. Remote attackers could manipulate page history records, delete or rename pages, and potentially access system administration interfaces through the injected scripts. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the web application, as malicious actors could disrupt content management operations, corrupt data, or establish persistent access points within the application. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed through simple web requests, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible Tiki installations.
Organizations utilizing affected Tiki versions should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and parameter sanitization across all affected scripts. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied input, particularly path information parameters, and ensuring that all web applications properly validate and sanitize input before processing. Security measures should also include regular application updates and patch management procedures to address similar vulnerabilities in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 as a command and scripting interpreter technique, while the CWE classification emphasizes the importance of input validation and output encoding practices. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.