CVE-2013-7231 in ArcGIS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Mobile Content Server in ESRI ArcGIS for Server 10.1 and 10.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-5222.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The CVE-2013-7231 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within ESRI ArcGIS for Server's Mobile Content Server component affecting versions 10.1 and 10.2. This security weakness specifically targets the web application layer where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to clients, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level where data validation mechanisms fail to adequately filter or escape user-supplied content that gets processed and displayed in web responses.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve user-controllable parameters within the Mobile Content Server functionality. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of authenticated users. This particular vulnerability differs from CVE-2013-5222, indicating it affects different code paths or input handling mechanisms within the ArcGIS Server architecture. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist and execute in user browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive data, manipulate web content, or redirect users to malicious sites. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness without requiring additional privileges beyond their existing access level, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts exist. The Mobile Content Server component typically handles mobile web requests and content delivery, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise mobile application functionality and user data integrity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the XSS payload to execute malicious commands within user browsers.
Organizations using ESRI ArcGIS for Server versions 10.1 and 10.2 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied data before processing and ensuring proper HTML escaping of dynamic content. Network segmentation and access controls should limit the attack surface by restricting access to the Mobile Content Server to only authorized users. Regular security updates and patches from ESRI should be deployed immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability represents a persistent threat that could enable broader compromise within the ArcGIS ecosystem. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous user behavior patterns and unexpected content delivery from the Mobile Content Server component.