CVE-2011-4709 in Hotaru
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Hotaru.php in the Search plugin 1.3 for Hotaru CMS allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) SITE_NAME parameter to admin_index.php, or the (2) return and (3) search parameters to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4709 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Search plugin version 1.3 of Hotaru CMS, a content management system widely used for web publishing and community management. This vulnerability exposes the platform to remote code execution risks where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The flaw specifically affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can be exploited by unauthorized parties without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's administrative and user-facing interfaces. Attackers can exploit three distinct parameter injection points to execute malicious code through the SITE_NAME parameter in admin_index.php, and through both the return and search parameters in index.php. These parameters are processed without adequate sanitization measures, allowing attackers to embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to severe security implications in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. When exploited successfully, these XSS vulnerabilities can lead to complete compromise of user accounts, especially if the affected users have administrative privileges within the CMS environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Hotaru CMS is designed for community-driven websites and content management platforms where user-generated content is common, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities particularly effective in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4709 should prioritize immediate patching of the Search plugin to version 1.4 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive output encoding for all user-supplied parameters and establish strict input validation mechanisms that sanitize all data before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Security monitoring should include regular vulnerability scanning and input validation testing to detect potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter techniques, this vulnerability represents a vector for executing malicious code through web-based attack surfaces, making proper input sanitization and output encoding essential defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web infrastructure.