CVE-2013-5744 in Feng Office
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Feng Office 2.3.2-rc and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an arbitrary ref_XXX parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The CVE-2013-5744 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Feng Office version 2.3.2-rc and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data that flows through the ref_XXX parameter. The affected system processes this parameter without adequate sanitization or encoding, creating an exploitable condition that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to implement proper output encoding or input validation for parameters beginning with the ref_XXX prefix, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted malicious input.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates as a classic reflected cross-site scripting attack vector where the malicious payload is embedded within the ref_XXX parameter and subsequently executed in the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Feng Office application framework, creating a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute in the browser of any user who views the affected page. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that the parameter name ref_XXX suggests a reference or redirection mechanism, making it a natural target for attackers attempting to manipulate application flow or inject malicious content. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or validate user input before incorporating it into web page content.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5744 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface the application interface, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent XSS payloads that remain active until the application is updated or the affected parameter is properly sanitized. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user data, modification of application content, and exploitation of user trust in the legitimate application. Given that Feng Office is a collaborative platform for project management and document sharing, the compromise of a single user's session could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business information, project data, and collaborative workspaces. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to a maliciously crafted URL, making it suitable for mass distribution through phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and parameter sanitization to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input validation that rejects or sanitizes any input containing potentially malicious script content, combined with output encoding that ensures all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns in other parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the T1059.008 technique category for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" or more appropriately T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" when considering the exploitation methods. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules to filter malicious payloads and monitoring for unusual parameter patterns can provide additional defense layers. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and ensure that input validation and output encoding practices are consistently applied across all components of the web application stack.