CVE-2014-100004 in Sitecore
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Sitecore CMS before 7.0 Update-4 (rev. 140120) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the xmlcontrol parameter to the default URI. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Sitecore Content Management System versions prior to 7.0 Update-4, specifically affecting revision 140120 and earlier. The flaw resides in how the system processes the xmlcontrol parameter when submitted to the default URI, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw where attacker-controlled input is immediately reflected back to users without adequate sanitization, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle user interactions through parameterized URLs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code through the xmlcontrol parameter, which gets processed and rendered without proper security controls. When a victim accesses a maliciously crafted URL containing the XSS payload, the injected code executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it highly accessible to threat actors. According to CWE classification, this maps to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input that gets rendered in web contexts. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through web shell execution and browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting through form submission interception, session fixation attacks, or redirection to phishing sites that appear legitimate to users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user sessions, especially if the affected Sitecore instance handles sensitive administrative functions or user authentication. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. Organizations running affected versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive content, and possible compromise of the entire content management infrastructure. The impact is particularly severe given that Sitecore CMS is widely used by enterprises for managing digital content, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities a significant concern for business continuity and information security.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to Sitecore 7.0 Update-4 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding controls. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious xmlcontrol parameter values, though this represents a temporary workaround rather than a permanent solution. Input validation should be strengthened to reject or sanitize any non-alphanumeric characters in the xmlcontrol parameter, while output encoding must be implemented to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before rendering in web contexts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Sitecore installations, implement proper security headers including Content Security Policy, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual parameter usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping content management systems updated and maintaining robust input validation practices across all web applications.