CVE-2014-0814 in phpMyFAQ
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phpMyFAQ before 2.8.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0814 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the phpMyFAQ content management system prior to version 2.8.6. This security weakness falls under the category of input validation and output encoding failures, specifically categorized as CWE-79 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data within the phpMyFAQ application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed when other users view affected pages or interact with the application. The unspecified vectors indicate that multiple entry points within the application could be compromised, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for administrators who must secure various input fields and parameters. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web interface where users interact with database management functionalities through phpMyFAQ.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that phpMyFAQ is commonly used for database administration and knowledge base management, the potential for exploitation is significant. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to administrative functions, modify database content, or extract sensitive user information. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system compromise is required, making it particularly dangerous for web applications accessible over the internet. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes the use of malicious payloads delivered through web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0814 should prioritize immediate patching to version 2.8.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The application should employ proper HTML escaping techniques and utilize Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of input that might indicate attempted exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential damage if exploitation occurs, while maintaining proper logging and audit trails for forensic analysis. The fix for this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security updates in maintaining web application integrity.