CVE-2013-0193 in Piwik
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Piwik before 1.10.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. NOTE: This is a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-0194 and CVE-2013-0195.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0193 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Piwik web analytics platform prior to version 1.10.1. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The issue enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or session hijacking. Piwik, as a popular open-source web analytics platform, serves as a critical component for website owners to track user behavior and gather analytical data, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Piwik application's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts through unspecified vectors, which likely include user-controllable parameters in web forms, URL parameters, or other input fields where user data is processed and subsequently displayed on web pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may exist across multiple input points within the application, potentially affecting various modules or components that handle user data. This broad attack surface increases the exploitability of the vulnerability and makes comprehensive remediation more challenging for administrators.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0193 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even modify the content of web pages displayed to users. Given that Piwik is commonly used for tracking sensitive user interactions and website performance metrics, successful exploitation could lead to data breaches or unauthorized access to analytical information. The remote nature of this attack means that threat actors can exploit the vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system or network, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Piwik is deployed on publicly accessible servers. Organizations relying on Piwik for web analytics may experience significant security implications if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0193 primarily involve upgrading to Piwik version 1.10.1 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policies to reduce the attack surface. The implementation of web application firewalls and regular security assessments can provide additional layers of protection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, and T1071.001 for application layer protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing CSP headers to prevent script execution from unauthorized sources, and regularly review their web application security configurations to ensure proper protection against similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that all input fields and user-controllable parameters are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web pages.