CVE-2013-4249 in Django
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AdminURLFieldWidget widget in contrib/admin/widgets.py in Django 1.5.x before 1.5.2 and 1.6.x before 1.6 beta 2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a URLField.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2022
The CVE-2013-4249 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Django web framework's administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically affects the AdminURLFieldWidget component located in contrib/admin/widgets.py, which is responsible for rendering URL input fields within Django's admin panel. The issue manifests when the framework fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the administrative interface, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code through carefully crafted URL inputs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Django admin widget system. When administrators interact with URL fields in the Django admin interface, the framework should properly escape or encode any user-provided content to prevent execution of malicious scripts. However, in affected versions, the AdminURLFieldWidget component fails to adequately sanitize URL inputs, allowing attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the admin interface. This vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4249 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate the administrative interface to gain deeper system access. Since the vulnerability affects the Django admin panel, successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify or delete database records, change user permissions, or even install backdoors through the administrative interface. The attack vector requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability exists in the server-side rendering of the admin interface, making it particularly dangerous for applications that rely heavily on Django's built-in administrative tools. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables execution of malicious JavaScript code through web interface manipulation.
Organizations using Django versions 1.5.x prior to 1.5.2 or 1.6.x prior to 1.6 beta 2 should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the framework. The most effective remediation involves applying the official Django security patches that address the input sanitization issue in the AdminURLFieldWidget. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, though this serves as a secondary defense rather than a primary fix. Organizations should also review their administrative access controls and implement multi-factor authentication for admin accounts to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly benign administrative components can become attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented.