CVE-2013-6233 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 the Description field in the "Short document metadata."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The CVE-2013-6233 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the SpagoBI business intelligence platform prior to version 4.1. This vulnerability exists within the document metadata management functionality where users can input descriptive information about their documents. The flaw specifically targets the Description field in the "Short document metadata" section, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a code injection attack where malicious scripts are injected into otherwise benign and trusted websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning that an attacker must first gain valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once authenticated, they can leverage this weakness to compromise other users within the same system. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of the Description field, which is typically used for adding contextual information about documents, making it a legitimate input point that users frequently interact with.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it allows attackers to potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. In a business intelligence environment like SpagoBI, where users often handle sensitive data and reports, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access confidential business information, manipulate data views, or gain deeper access to the system. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the attacker needs to establish a valid user session, but once achieved, they can persistently inject malicious code that executes whenever other users view the affected documents.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where the application does not properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through legitimate user interactions, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Valid Accounts and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can execute malicious scripts through the vulnerable input field. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper output encoding and input validation mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being stored or displayed. Organizations should also implement content security policies and regularly update their SpagoBI installations to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data in enterprise environments.