CVE-2011-4580 in JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform before 5.2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4580 represents a critical security flaw in the Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform version 5.2.0 and earlier. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the portal platform's web interface components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. These vulnerabilities occur when the platform fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw exists across multiple entry points within the portal platform, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various communication channels and user interaction methods.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing the affected JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform. Remote attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to steal session cookies, hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the integrity of the portal environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects the core portal platform functionality, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data and privileged user accounts.
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities typically follows standard XSS attack patterns where malicious payloads are delivered through web forms, URL parameters, or other user input fields within the portal interface. Attackers can craft scripts that execute in the context of legitimate users' browsers, potentially leading to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to enterprise resources. The impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially affect the entire portal infrastructure and the data it manages.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of affected systems to version 5.2.0 or later, which addresses the identified XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines for web application development. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future deployments.