CVE-2013-0709 in Dopvstar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in dopvSTAR* 0091 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the HTTP Referer header, which is not properly handled during display of the access log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2018
The CVE-2013-0709 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the dopvSTAR* 0091 web application that exposes a critical security weakness in input validation and output sanitization practices. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of the HTTP Referer header, which is commonly used by web browsers to indicate the address of the webpage that linked to the resource being requested. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the Referer header content before displaying it in the access log interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insecure data handling methodology where user-supplied input from the Referer header is directly incorporated into the web page output without appropriate security measures. When a malicious user crafts a specially formatted Referer header containing script tags or other malicious code, and this header is subsequently displayed in the access log viewer, the browser interprets the injected code as legitimate content and executes it. This behavior violates fundamental web security principles and demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without prior access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The access log viewer serves as a privileged interface that typically contains sensitive operational data, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who may seek to gain deeper insights into the system's activities or manipulate the logged information. This vulnerability can be exploited to perform session hijacking attacks, where attackers can steal session cookies and impersonate legitimate users, or to inject malicious payloads that persist in the access logs and affect all users who view the log data. The attack vector through the Referer header is particularly insidious because it can be triggered by simply visiting a malicious webpage or clicking on a compromised link, making the exploitation process relatively straightforward for attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output sanitization measures throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The primary remediation involves escaping or filtering all user-supplied input, including the Referer header, before displaying it in any web interface. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defense-in-depth principles, specifically addressing techniques related to command injection and code execution. Organizations should implement proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content displayed in web interfaces, ensuring that any special characters including angle brackets, quotes, and script tags are properly escaped. Additionally, the application should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to further restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation gaps in other parts of the application, while also implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include updating the application to a version that properly handles the Referer header and implementing proper access controls for sensitive administrative interfaces to limit the exposure of the vulnerability to authorized personnel only.