CVE-2013-6168 in Application Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Zikula Application Framework before 1.3.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the returnpage parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The CVE-2013-6168 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Zikula Application Framework version 1.3.5 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the framework's handling of user input within the returnpage parameter of the index.php endpoint, creating a persistent security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects web applications built on the Zikula platform, which is a content management system and web application framework designed for creating dynamic websites and web applications. The flaw allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code that gets executed when users navigate to specific pages, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Zikula framework's authentication and redirection mechanisms. When users attempt to log in or access protected areas of a Zikula-powered website, the system often redirects them to a returnpage parameter that specifies where they should be sent after successful authentication. The framework fails to properly sanitize or encode this parameter before processing it, allowing malicious actors to inject script tags, javascript code, or other malicious HTML content. This weakness is classified as a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability under CWE-79, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode output data, making it executable in web browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, requiring no special privileges or access to the underlying system, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6168 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and full compromise of user accounts within affected Zikula applications. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute in their browser context and potentially steal session cookies or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected Zikula versions, including administrators, making it a critical concern for any organization relying on this framework for their web presence. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate authentication flows, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious redirects. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability enables privilege escalation through session manipulation, while T1190 represents the initial access point that attackers can use to establish persistent presence within target networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6168 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Zikula installations to version 1.3.6 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization routines that validate and encode all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in redirection contexts. The framework should employ output encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for any data that gets rendered in web pages, preventing script execution even if malicious content is somehow injected. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded, effectively mitigating the impact of successful XSS attacks. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can also help detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability, though they should not be considered a replacement for proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL patterns and unusual redirection behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly validated before being processed or displayed. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor oversights in parameter handling can lead to significant security breaches.