CVE-2011-4950 in EGroupware Enterprise Line
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phpgwapi/js/jscalendar/test.php in EGroupware Enterprise Line (EPL) before 11.1.20110804-1 and EGroupware Community Edition before 1.8.001.20110805 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the lang parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The CVE-2011-4950 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affects the EGroupware Enterprise Line and Community Edition platforms. This vulnerability exists within the phpgwapi/js/jscalendar/test.php component and specifically targets the lang parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized during input processing. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability was present in EGroupware versions prior to 11.1.20110804-1 for Enterprise Line and before 1.8.001.20110805 for Community Edition, indicating a significant window of exposure for organizations utilizing these platforms. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content generation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where malicious input is passed through the lang parameter to the vulnerable script. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization, the injected code becomes part of the web page response, executing in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where authenticated users may inadvertently execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most common and dangerous web application security flaws. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing via Social Media" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript", demonstrating how such flaws enable broader attack chains.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4950 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. Organizations using vulnerable EGroupware installations face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations, particularly in regulated industries where user data protection is paramount. The vulnerability affects web application functionality and user trust, as compromised systems may serve malicious content to unsuspecting users. Additionally, the flaw could enable attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive administrative functions if the application lacks proper access controls. Security teams must consider the broader implications of such vulnerabilities within their attack surface, as they often serve as initial access points for more complex exploitation campaigns. The affected component's location within the javascript calendar functionality suggests that attackers could target users with calendar-based applications, potentially affecting business operations and user productivity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4950 should prioritize immediate patching of affected EGroupware installations to versions 11.1.20110804-1 or 1.8.001.20110805 respectively, ensuring that all users are updated to secure versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other application components, particularly those handling user-provided parameters. Web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar flaws across the entire application portfolio. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values and unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing secure coding practices and regular security training for development teams, as proper input validation and sanitization should be fundamental to all web application development processes.