CVE-2013-6794 in Olat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Calendar module in Olat 7.8.0.1 (b20130821 N1) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Location field. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The CVE-2013-6794 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Calendar module of OLAT version 7.8.0.1, specifically affecting the Location field parameter. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability was identified in the context of OLAT, an open-source learning management system widely used in educational institutions for course management and collaborative learning environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit malicious input through the Location field of calendar events within the OLAT platform. This field is designed to capture location information for calendar entries but fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before rendering it in the web interface. When the vulnerable application displays this unsanitized input without appropriate encoding or filtering, it creates an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages a commonly used calendar functionality that users interact with regularly, making it an attractive target for exploitation.
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 environment. Attackers could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, modify calendar entries to spread malware, or even escalate privileges within the OLAT system if additional vulnerabilities exist. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in educational settings where OLAT platforms often contain sensitive information about students, faculty, and institutional operations. The fact that this vulnerability affects the Calendar module, which is frequently used for scheduling important academic events, means that attackers could manipulate or disrupt critical institutional communications and planning activities.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1566.002 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Link" as attackers could craft malicious calendar entries that, when viewed by other users, would execute their payloads. The vulnerability also relates to T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as it enables the execution of JavaScript code within user browsers. Organizations using OLAT 7.8.0.1 should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that includes other modules and components of the platform, particularly since the calendar module is often integrated with other features such as messaging and resource sharing. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as it represents a failure in the application's defense-in-depth strategy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6794 should include immediate patching of the OLAT platform to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, along with implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms for all user-provided data. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and conduct thorough security assessments of their OLAT installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive security testing of web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content in educational environments where data integrity and user safety are paramount considerations.