CVE-2014-0232 in OFBiz
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in framework/common/webcommon/includes/messages.ftl in Apache OFBiz 11.04.01 before 11.04.05 and 12.04.01 before 12.04.04 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, which are not properly handled in a (1) result or (2) error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0232 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within Apache OFBiz version 11.04.01 through 11.04.04 and 12.04.01 through 12.04.03. This flaw resides in the framework/common/webcommon/includes/messages.ftl component, which serves as a template file for handling various system messages and results within the application's web interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web contexts, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that manipulate how system results and error messages are processed and displayed within the web interface. When the application encounters certain input conditions, it fails to properly escape or encode special characters in the message templates, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This weakness specifically affects the handling of both result and error messages, meaning that any user interaction that generates system feedback could potentially serve as an injection point. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or incorrectly sanitizing output, which directly enables XSS attacks by allowing malicious code to be executed in victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent footholds within the application environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute malicious scripts that harvest session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it affects core messaging components that are likely to be triggered during normal application usage, meaning that the vulnerability could be exploited without requiring specific user actions beyond accessing the vulnerable application. The impact is amplified when considering that OFBiz is commonly used for enterprise resource planning and business applications, where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive business data.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Apache OFBiz versions 11.04.05 and 12.04.04 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level can provide defense-in-depth measures. The security controls should include Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping of dynamic content, and regular security assessments of template files. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, and establish monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through spearphishing and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures beyond just patch management. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews of message handling components and implementation of automated security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.