CVE-2013-6232 in SpagoBI
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SpagoBI before 4.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a document note in the execution page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6232 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SpagoBI business intelligence platform prior to version 4.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the document note functionality within the execution page, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only authenticated access, meaning that attackers with legitimate user credentials can exploit this weakness to compromise other users within the same system.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to adequately filter or escape special characters in document notes submitted by users. When authenticated users view documents containing maliciously crafted note content, the unfiltered input gets executed as web script within their browser context. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including stored XSS where malicious content is permanently stored on the server and later retrieved by other users, or reflected XSS where the malicious content is immediately reflected back to the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised user's session. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify page content, or even execute full browser-based attacks against the authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the SpagoBI platform by allowing unauthorized code execution in the context of legitimate user sessions. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on SpagoBI for business intelligence and data analysis, as compromised users could gain access to sensitive business data, manipulate reports, or disrupt normal operations. The attack surface is particularly broad since any authenticated user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to target other users within the same system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms that properly sanitize all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The recommended approach involves implementing strict content security policies, employing proper HTML escaping techniques, and ensuring that all user inputs are validated against whitelisted character sets. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability to address the identified vulnerability. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.