CVE-2013-5706 in Coursemill Learning Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Coursemill Learning Management System (LMS) 6.8 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to error messages and (1) crafted event attributes or (2) > (greater than) characters that are optional within a browser s HTML implementation, a different issue than CVE-2013-3603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The CVE-2013-5706 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Coursemill Learning Management System version 6.8, a widely used platform for educational institutions and corporate training environments. This vulnerability exists within the system's handling of user input and error message processing, creating exploitable entry points that could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are processed in error message contexts, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered during normal system operations when error conditions occur. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious code that persists in the application's error handling mechanisms, potentially affecting multiple users who encounter these error messages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct vectors that leverage the permissive nature of HTML parsing in web browsers. The first vector involves crafting event attributes within malicious input that can be processed by the LMS when displaying error messages, while the second vector exploits the optional nature of the greater than character in browser HTML implementations. This dual attack surface increases the exploitability of the vulnerability, as attackers can leverage either method depending on the specific error conditions encountered. The vulnerability's classification as a cross-site scripting flaw indicates that it operates at the application layer, where malicious scripts can execute in the victim's browser context with the privileges of the authenticated user, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can compromise the entire integrity of the learning management system environment. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive course materials, manipulate user data, or even gain administrative control over the LMS platform. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, malicious scripts can continue to execute whenever affected users encounter the vulnerable error messages, creating a long-term security risk. This vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions and corporate training environments where user trust and data integrity are paramount, as it could be used to steal login credentials, access confidential student information, or disrupt educational services. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2013-3603 demonstrates the broader pattern of HTML injection flaws in LMS platforms, highlighting the need for comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all application components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input sanitization, output encoding, and strict validation of all user-supplied data before it is processed or displayed in error messages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1566 for credential access through malicious input. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while ensuring that all users are promptly updated on the vulnerability and its potential impact. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews of error handling mechanisms and implementation of proper escape sequences for all dynamic content rendered in web interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the software.