CVE-2014-0362 in Search Appliance Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability on Google Search Appliance (GSA) devices before 7.0.14.G.216 and 7.2 before 7.2.0.G.114, when dynamic navigation is configured, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via input included in a SCRIPT element.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2025
The CVE-2014-0362 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Google Search Appliance devices that affected versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the dynamic navigation feature of the GSA platform, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts and HTML code within the context of user sessions. The flaw exists in the input validation mechanisms that process data submitted through SCRIPT elements, which are commonly used in web applications for client-side scripting execution. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is significant as it allows attackers to manipulate the search appliance's behavior and potentially compromise user sessions or access sensitive information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw manifests when the GSA processes user input that contains SCRIPT elements, failing to adequately sanitize or escape the content before rendering it within the web interface. This oversight creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious code that executes in the browser context of legitimate users interacting with the search appliance. The vulnerability specifically impacts the dynamic navigation functionality, which is designed to provide contextual search results and navigation paths, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in enterprise search environments where user trust and data integrity are paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. In enterprise environments where the GSA serves as a critical search infrastructure component, this vulnerability could compromise the entire search ecosystem, affecting thousands of users who rely on the appliance for information access. Attackers could exploit this flaw to inject persistent scripts that would execute whenever users interact with the search interface, potentially leading to data exfiltration or further compromise of the network. The vulnerability's presence in the dynamic navigation feature means that even legitimate search queries containing malicious input could trigger the exploit, making detection and prevention challenging.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor patches released for versions 7.0.14.G.216 and 7.2.0.G.114, which address the input validation issues in the SCRIPT element handling. Network segmentation and monitoring of search appliance traffic can help detect anomalous input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures and content security policies can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for script injection techniques, highlighting the importance of monitoring for malicious script execution patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments of search appliance configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.