CVE-2011-5211 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the poll module in Subrion CMS 2.0.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title field. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2012-5452.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5211 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the poll module of Subrion CMS version 2.0.4. This security weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw manifests in the handling of user input within the title field of poll submissions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system or prior authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious payload through the poll title field, which is then rendered on the web page without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows the injected script to execute in the browser context of any user who views the affected poll, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack leverages the fundamental principle of XSS where untrusted data flows from the web application to the user's browser without appropriate validation or sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in content management systems where user-generated content is prevalent and where administrators may not adequately monitor all submitted data.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Attackers can leverage the XSS capability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that can compromise the integrity of the entire CMS installation. The vulnerability's potential overlap with CVE-2012-5452 suggests similar patterns of insecure input handling across different components of the Subrion CMS, indicating a systemic issue in the application's data validation processes. This type of vulnerability can significantly undermine user trust in the platform and may result in regulatory compliance issues for organizations using the affected CMS version.
Organizations utilizing Subrion CMS 2.0.4 should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the execution of malicious scripts. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation of all user inputs, particularly in fields that are rendered directly on web pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework, specifically addressing the need for robust sanitization of user inputs to prevent injection attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.