CVE-2013-3640 in Filemaker Pro Advanced
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Instant Web Publish function in FileMaker Pro before 12 and Pro Advanced before 12 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3640 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within FileMaker Pro's Instant Web Publish functionality. This security weakness affects versions prior to 12 of both FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web publishing component, specifically when processing user-supplied data through the Instant Web Publish feature. The unspecified vectors indicate that attackers could potentially leverage multiple entry points to inject malicious scripts, making the attack surface more expansive and harder to predict.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the flaw occurs in the data handling process where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The Instant Web Publish function serves as an intermediary between FileMaker's database functionality and web browsers, creating a pathway for malicious code injection. When users interact with web forms or data entry points exposed through this feature, the system fails to adequately filter or escape potentially harmful content, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of web-based FileMaker applications. Remote attackers could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers, potentially leading to complete system compromise if users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on FileMaker's web publishing capabilities for business-critical applications, including those in healthcare, finance, and government sectors where data protection is paramount. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access through session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract confidential database information through browser-based attacks. The widespread use of FileMaker Pro in enterprise environments means that successful exploitation could affect numerous organizations simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3640 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FileMaker Pro installations to version 12 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewalls and content security policies to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. Regular security assessments of web-based FileMaker applications should include thorough testing of input validation controls and output encoding practices. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted web interactions with FileMaker applications. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of web application traffic can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts, and organizations should consider adopting the ATT&CK framework to understand potential attack patterns and develop appropriate defensive measures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against web-based attacks that target database publishing platforms.