CVE-2011-4563 in JAKCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in JAKCMS 2.0.4.1, and possibly other versions before 2.2.6 2011-09-23, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the userpost parameter in a PM request, related to tinymce. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2019
The CVE-2011-4563 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in JAKCMS version 2.0.4.1 and potentially affecting earlier versions up to 2.2.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php file within the content management system and operates through the userpost parameter in private messaging requests. The flaw is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for the entire user base of affected installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the JAKCMS application. When users submit private messages containing the userpost parameter, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before processing it through the tinymce rich text editor component. This omission creates an opening for malicious actors to inject crafted scripts that will execute when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically addressing cross-site scripting conditions where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Since the vulnerability affects the core messaging functionality of JAKCMS, attackers can compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The tinymce editor component amplifies the risk as it provides a rich text editing interface that can be exploited to inject complex malicious payloads that bypass basic security measures. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1531 category for credential access through web application attacks, and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
Organizations utilizing affected JAKCMS versions should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to version 2.2.6 or later where the input sanitization issues have been addressed. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation mechanisms that filter or encode all user-supplied content before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional protective layer by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing of input validation mechanisms, particularly focusing on rich text editors and user-generated content processing. System administrators should also monitor for unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and ensure that all third-party components are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities.