CVE-2013-2041 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ownCloud 5.0.x before 5.0.6 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) tag parameter to apps/bookmarks/ajax/addBookmark.php or (2) dir parameter to apps/files/ajax/newfile.php, which is passed to apps/files/js/files.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2013-2041 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ownCloud versions 5.0.x prior to 5.0.6. This vulnerability exists within the web application's handling of user input parameters, specifically targeting two distinct endpoints that process file and bookmark operations. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or complete account compromise. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's file management and bookmarking modules.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data. The first vector targets the tag parameter in apps/bookmarks/ajax/addBookmark.php, where user-provided tag values are directly incorporated into the application's response without proper HTML escaping or sanitization. The second vector exploits the dir parameter in apps/files/ajax/newfile.php, where directory path information is passed through to apps/files/js/files.js without adequate validation. Both vulnerabilities demonstrate a classic XSS flaw classified under CWE-79, which represents the improper neutralization of input during web page generation in a web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as authenticated users can leverage these flaws to perform various malicious activities within the ownCloud environment. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify file contents, or access other users' personal data. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once compromised, they can execute persistent XSS attacks against other users within the same ownCloud instance. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on ownCloud for collaborative file sharing and document management, where the exposure of sensitive business data could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching to version 5.0.6 or later where the XSS flaws have been addressed. The remediation approach should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic web content generation. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and establish proper input sanitization routines that follow OWASP XSS prevention guidelines. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachment, demonstrating how authenticated XSS vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for broader exploitation campaigns. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar input validation gaps that could potentially lead to other classes of vulnerabilities.