CVE-2014-0638 in Adaptive Authentication
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in RSA Adaptive Authentication (On-Premise) 6.x and 7.x before 7.1 SP0 P2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving FRAME elements, related to a "cross-frame scripting" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The CVE-2014-0638 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in RSA Adaptive Authentication On-Premise versions 6.x and 7.x prior to 7.1 SP0 P2. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of FRAME elements within the authentication system, creating a cross-frame scripting attack vector that enables remote adversaries to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content. The flaw exists in the way the system processes and renders frame-based content, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that can be executed in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the RSA Adaptive Authentication framework's frame handling mechanisms. When the system processes FRAME elements in user-supplied input or configuration data, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious frame structures that, when rendered by the browser, execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's authenticated session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the authentication system and the user's browser, potentially allowing attackers to hijack sessions or access sensitive authentication data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the authentication environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw to inject malicious frames that redirect users to phishing sites, capture authentication tokens, or manipulate the authentication flow to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability affects organizations using RSA Adaptive Authentication in on-premise deployments, potentially compromising the security of entire authentication infrastructures where users trust the system for sensitive operations. The cross-frame scripting nature means that the attack can bypass traditional security controls that might protect against standard XSS attacks, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor patch released for RSA Adaptive Authentication 7.1 SP0 P2 and subsequent versions, implementing strict input validation for all frame-related parameters, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious frame injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict frame loading and enforce strict sanitization of all user input to prevent exploitation. Regular security assessments of authentication systems and monitoring for unusual frame-related traffic patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts before they succeed.