CVE-2013-1822 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ownCloud 4.5.x before 4.5.8 allow remote authenticated users with administrator privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) quota parameter to /core/settings/ajax/setquota.php, or remote authenticated users with group admin privileges to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (2) group field to settings.php or (3) "share with" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The CVE-2013-1822 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ownCloud versions 4.5.x before 4.5.8, exposing the platform to significant security risks through multiple attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically targets the web application's handling of user input in administrative contexts, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the browser of unsuspecting users. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient sanitization of parameters passed through various administrative interfaces, making it particularly dangerous when exploited by users with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors that exploit different administrative endpoints within the ownCloud platform. The first vector involves the quota parameter within the /core/settings/ajax/setquota.php endpoint, where administrators can manipulate user storage limits. The second vector targets the group field in settings.php, allowing group administrators to inject malicious scripts during group management operations. The third vector focuses on the "share with" field functionality, which enables users to share content with other users or groups. All three vectors exploit the core issue of inadequate input validation and output encoding, where user-supplied data flows directly into the application's response without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers with appropriate privileges to perform a range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Administrators with access to the quota parameter can potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject persistent malware that executes within the victim's browser. Group administrators exploiting the group field can manipulate group memberships and permissions, while those targeting the "share with" functionality can create malicious shares that compromise other users' data access. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of user sessions, potentially leading to full account compromise and data exfiltration.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent web application security flaws identified in the CWE database. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as attackers can leverage the XSS vectors to execute malicious JavaScript code within user browsers. Additionally, the attack patterns demonstrate characteristics of T1566.001: Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as the malicious scripts could be used to create convincing phishing campaigns that appear legitimate to end users. The vulnerability also reflects poor input validation practices that should be addressed through proper sanitization and encoding mechanisms.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability encompass both immediate and long-term security measures. Immediate remediation requires updating to ownCloud version 4.5.8 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes for all three identified vectors. Organizations should implement strict input validation policies that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for administrative parameters and sharing functionality. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth against script injection attacks. Regular security audits of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar input handling issues, and privilege escalation controls should be reviewed to ensure that administrative functions are properly restricted to authorized users only. Furthermore, user education about suspicious sharing requests and the importance of verifying administrative actions can help reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.