CVE-2013-0201 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ownCloud 4.5.5, 4.0.10, and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) QUERY_STRING to core/lostpassword/templates/resetpassword.php, (2) mime parameter to apps/files/ajax/mimeicon.php, or (3) token parameter to apps/gallery/sharing.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0201 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting multiple versions of the ownCloud file sharing platform. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms and allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The issue manifests across three distinct attack vectors within the application's core functionality, demonstrating the breadth of impact across different modules of the platform's architecture.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the application's request handling process. Specifically, the vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or escape special characters in three distinct parameter fields. The first vector involves the QUERY_STRING parameter in the resetpassword.php endpoint, where unfiltered input allows attackers to inject malicious scripts during password recovery processes. The second vulnerability exists in the mime parameter of the mimeicon.php ajax handler, where the application directly incorporates user-provided mime type information into generated HTML responses. The third attack vector targets the token parameter within the gallery sharing functionality, where sharing tokens are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive authentication credentials, and potentially gain unauthorized access to personal data stored within the ownCloud environment. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that would execute when victims navigate to specific pages or interact with shared resources. This type of vulnerability particularly affects the platform's security model since ownCloud is designed to handle sensitive personal and business data, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to exploit user trust and access credentials.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can create persistent security weaknesses. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through malicious web content and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerable parameters are accessible through standard web requests and do not require authentication or special privileges to exploit.
Organizations using affected versions of ownCloud should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation patches, proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and comprehensive security monitoring. The recommended approach involves updating to patched versions of the application, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conducting thorough security assessments of all user-facing parameters. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential consequences of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in enterprise file sharing platforms.