CVE-2013-1636 in CiviCRM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in open-flash-chart.swf in Open Flash Chart (aka Open-Flash Chart), as used in the Pretty Link Lite plugin before 1.6.3 for WordPress, JNews (com_jnews) component 8.0.1 for Joomla!, and CiviCRM 3.1.0 through 4.2.9 and 4.3.0 through 4.3.3, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the get-data parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2025
The CVE-2013-1636 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the open-flash-chart.swf component of Open Flash Chart, a widely deployed charting library that has been integrated into numerous content management systems and web applications. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of the library that were incorporated into popular WordPress plugins such as Pretty Link Lite prior to version 1.6.3, Joomla! components including com_jnews version 8.0.1, and CiviCRM versions ranging from 3.1.0 through 4.2.9 and 4.3.0 through 4.3.3. The flaw resides in how the flash-based charting component processes input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of affected web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the get-data parameter in the open-flash-chart.swf file, which serves as the primary interface for passing chart data to the flash component. When the vulnerable application processes user-supplied data through this parameter without proper input validation or sanitization, it inadvertently executes malicious scripts within the browser context of authenticated users. This occurs because the flash component fails to properly escape or validate the data passed through the get-data parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed when the chart is rendered. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern, where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or users may be logged in with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1636 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from affected systems. When exploited against WordPress installations with Pretty Link Lite plugin, attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify content, or redirect visitors to malicious websites. In Joomla! environments using com_jnews, the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise entire sites and potentially spread to other components that share the same vulnerable library. For CiviCRM deployments, this flaw poses a significant risk to organizations managing sensitive donor and membership data, as attackers could extract confidential information or manipulate financial records through the compromised charting functionality.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the vulnerable components to the latest versions that contain proper input sanitization and validation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading all affected plugins and components to their patched versions, specifically ensuring that Pretty Link Lite is updated to version 1.6.3 or later, com_jnews is upgraded to a version beyond 8.0.1, and CiviCRM installations are updated to versions that address this specific XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation at multiple layers including application-level filtering, web application firewalls, and content security policies to provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a typical attack pattern that would be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing such attacks.