CVE-2014-0341 in PivotX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PivotX before 2.3.9 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title field to (1) templates_internal/pages.tpl, (2) templates_internal/home.tpl, or (3) templates_internal/entries.tpl; (4) an event field to objects.php; or the (5) email or (6) nickname field to pages.php, related to templates_internal/users.tpl.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0341 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting PivotX versions prior to 2.3.9. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the content management system's template processing functions. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into various application components, creating persistent security risks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple template files and data entry points, indicating a systemic issue in the application's data handling architecture that requires comprehensive remediation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through several attack vectors within the PivotX application's template processing system. Attackers can exploit the flaw by submitting malicious content through the title field in template files such as templates_internal/pages.tpl, templates_internal/home.tpl, and templates_internal/entries.tpl. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the event field in objects.php and user-related fields in pages.php, specifically targeting the email and nickname fields in templates_internal/users.tpl. These attack vectors demonstrate a pattern of insufficient sanitization where user-provided input bypasses security controls and gets directly rendered into web pages without proper encoding or validation. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can create persistent security weaknesses.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0341 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to execute malicious code within the context of victim browsers. Authenticated users with access to the PivotX system can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent XSS payloads that affect all users who view compromised content. This capability allows attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface content management interfaces, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability's presence in core template files suggests that successful exploitation could compromise the entire content management system's user interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can also use this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors through malicious scripts that execute whenever affected templates are rendered, creating long-term security risks that may persist until the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0341 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the PivotX application. The primary remediation involves upgrading to PivotX version 2.3.9 or later, which includes proper sanitization of user input across all affected template files and data entry points. Organizations should implement strict input validation that filters out potentially malicious characters and sequences, while also applying proper output encoding before rendering user-provided content in web pages. Security controls should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular security audits of template files, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to application components. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while ensuring that all user accounts maintain appropriate access controls to minimize potential damage from compromised credentials. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566 highlights the importance of defending against social engineering and credential compromise attacks that could exploit this weakness.