CVE-2013-1466 in glFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in glFusion before 1.2.2.pl4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) subject parameter to profiles.php; (2) address1, (3) address2, (4) calendar_type, (5) city, (6) state, (7) title, (8) url, or (9) zipcode parameter to calendar/index.php; (10) title or (11) url parameter to links/index.php; or (12) PATH_INFO to admin/plugins/mediagallery/xppubwiz.php/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-1466 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the glFusion content management system prior to version 1.2.2.pl4. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities where improper validation of user input allows malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw exists due to insufficient sanitization of input parameters across multiple endpoints within the application's user profile and content management functionalities.
Multiple attack vectors have been identified within this vulnerability, each targeting different input parameters across various php files within the glFusion framework. The primary attack surfaces include the profiles.php endpoint where the subject parameter is not properly validated, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts when users view profile information. Additionally, the calendar/index.php file contains vulnerabilities in parameters including address1, address2, calendar_type, city, state, title, url, and zipcode, all of which can be manipulated to inject malicious code. The links/index.php file presents similar risks through title and url parameters, while the admin/plugins/mediagallery/xppubwiz.php file is vulnerable through PATH_INFO manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the browsers of unsuspecting users. This creates a persistent threat where malicious actors can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the website content. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but potentially the entire user base of the glFusion installation, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on user-generated content or community features. The attack can be executed without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
From a defensive perspective, the remediation approach should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing parameters. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing strict sanitization of all input fields using established encoding libraries, implementing proper Content Security Policy headers, and ensuring that all user-generated content is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities in other applications within their infrastructure. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's methodology for identifying and mitigating web application security weaknesses. The specific nature of this vulnerability underscores the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic analysis and manual code review to identify all potential injection points within complex web applications.