CVE-2013-7141 in AppSuite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Open-Xchange (OX) AppSuite 7.4.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to crafted "<%" tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The CVE-2013-7141 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Open-Xchange AppSuite version 7.4.1 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the web application's input validation mechanisms and demonstrates a significant weakness in how the system processes user-supplied data containing crafted "<%" tags. The vulnerability exists within the application's handling of web script and HTML injection attempts, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw stems from inadequate sanitization of user input, particularly when processing content that contains specific character sequences that should be properly escaped or filtered.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to adequately validate or escape special characters, particularly those that resemble server-side script tags such as "<%". This creates an environment where malicious actors can craft payloads that bypass the application's security controls, allowing arbitrary web scripts or HTML content to be injected into the application's response. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a Cross-Site Scripting weakness, specifically demonstrating the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw allows attackers to execute persistent or reflected XSS attacks, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or the execution of unauthorized commands within the user's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate the application's behavior to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject additional malicious scripts that persist across user sessions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Open-Xchange AppSuite, which provides email, calendar, and collaboration services, making it a particularly dangerous flaw for organizations relying on this platform. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the target system, making it especially concerning for enterprise environments where user interaction with web applications is frequent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected Open-Xchange AppSuite versions to the latest security releases, which would address the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the proper escaping of special characters and implementing Content Security Policies to limit script execution. The application should be configured to filter or reject content containing suspicious character sequences such as "<%", and all user inputs should undergo rigorous validation before being processed or rendered. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for Phishing and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, demonstrating how XSS flaws can serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks within enterprise environments.