CVE-2014-0013 in Ember.js
Summary
by MITRE
Ember.js 1.0.x before 1.0.1, 1.1.x before 1.1.3, 1.2.x before 1.2.1, 1.3.x before 1.3.1, and 1.4.x before 1.4.0-beta.2 allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by leveraging an application that contains templates whose context is set to a user-supplied primitive value and also contain the `{{this}}` special Handlebars variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0013 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ember.js JavaScript framework that affected multiple version branches from 1.0.x through 1.4.x. This vulnerability specifically targets applications that utilize Handlebars templating syntax and demonstrates how improper handling of user-supplied data within template contexts can create dangerous attack vectors. The flaw arises from the framework's treatment of the `{{this}}` Handlebars variable when it is embedded within templates that have their context set to user-provided primitive values, creating a pathway for malicious code injection.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from Ember.js's template compilation and rendering process where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into the template execution context. When an application sets a template's context to a user-controlled primitive value and subsequently renders the `{{this}}` variable, the framework fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into the generated HTML output. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks to potentially enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within affected applications. Attackers can craft malicious input that when processed through the vulnerable Ember.js templates results in script execution, bypassing typical browser security mechanisms such as same-origin policy restrictions. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Ember.js versions, making it particularly dangerous as organizations with legacy applications or those using older framework versions remain exposed to this threat. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Credential Access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0013 require immediate application updates to patched versions of Ember.js, specifically versions 1.0.1, 1.1.3, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, and 1.4.0-beta.2 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers of their application architecture, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into templates. Additionally, developers should avoid directly setting template contexts to user-provided values and instead implement proper data sanitization processes. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on template usage patterns, particularly where `{{this}}` variables are employed, and establish automated testing procedures to identify similar vulnerabilities within their codebases. The remediation process should also include updating all dependencies and ensuring that the framework's security patches are properly integrated into the application deployment pipeline.