CVE-2014-0089 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in app/views/common/500.html.erb in Foreman 1.4.x before 1.4.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the bookmark name when adding a bookmark.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The CVE-2014-0089 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Foreman systems management platform version 1.4.x prior to 1.4.2. This vulnerability specifically affects the error handling mechanism within the application's user interface, where the system displays a 500 error page template located at app/views/common/500.html.erb. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate the bookmark name parameter during bookmark creation to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input within the bookmark functionality of Foreman's web interface. When an authenticated user attempts to add a bookmark with a maliciously crafted name, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into the HTML output of the error page. This creates a classic XSS vector where the malicious payload executes within the victim's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of users or steal sensitive session information. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0089 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to leverage authenticated user sessions for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious JavaScript code in the browser of any user who views the affected error page, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the Foreman environment. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers must already have valid credentials to the system, but this still represents a significant security risk as it allows for lateral movement and persistent access within the managed infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script delivery.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Foreman installations to version 1.4.2 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including regular security assessments of web applications, comprehensive input validation policies, and output encoding controls that prevent malicious data from being interpreted as executable code. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests containing known XSS patterns, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in other web applications within their infrastructure. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that the XSS protection does not break legitimate functionality while maintaining the security posture of the managed systems.