CVE-2013-7250 in ProjectForge
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the JsonBuilder implementation in ProjectForge before 5.3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an autocompletion string, related to web/core/JsonBuilder.java and web/wicket/autocompletion/PFAutoCompleteBehavior.java.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The CVE-2013-7250 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within ProjectForge's JsonBuilder implementation that affects versions prior to 5.3. This vulnerability specifically targets the autocompletion functionality of the web application, creating a pathway for remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw resides in the web/core/JsonBuilder.java and web/wicket/autocompletion/PFAutoCompleteBehavior.java components, which handle the processing and rendering of autocomplete suggestions. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through carefully crafted autocompletion strings, potentially compromising user sessions and data confidentiality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the insecure handling of user input within the JsonBuilder's autocompletion mechanism. When users interact with autocomplete fields, the system processes their input and generates JSON responses that are subsequently rendered in the browser. The lack of proper input sanitization and output encoding in these components allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before including it in dynamically generated web pages. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic insecure data handling pattern where user input flows directly into output without adequate sanitization mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using ProjectForge versions before 5.3. Authenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the platform. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the application's user interface, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire web application and the data it manages. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social media, where the initial compromise occurs through web-based attack surfaces.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2013-7250 requires immediate patching of ProjectForge to version 5.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly within autocomplete and similar dynamic input components. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring for suspicious patterns in autocompletion requests. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews focusing on data flow patterns between user input and output rendering, particularly in JSON generation components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input sanitization techniques as recommended in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of web applications can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that may be susceptible to cross-site scripting attacks.