CVE-2014-100010 in ClanSphere
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ClanSphere 2011.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the where parameter in a list action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within ClanSphere 2011.4, a web-based content management system designed for clan and gaming communities. The flaw resides in the application's handling of user input through the where parameter in the list action of the index.php file, creating a persistent security weakness that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector where improperly sanitized input is directly incorporated into the application's response without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and injects it through the vulnerable where parameter. When the application processes this input and displays it in the list action without proper sanitization, the embedded script executes in the victim's browser session. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing the application interface, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a well-documented and widely recognized class of web application security flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the affected web application. Attackers can use this weakness to establish persistent access through session hijacking, create backdoor access points, or manipulate the application's functionality to serve malicious content to other users. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, as well as the overall availability of the application, since compromised sessions can be used to gain unauthorized administrative access. Organizations using ClanSphere 2011.4 face significant risk of data breaches, reputation damage, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to the exposure of user sessions and sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code execution. The application should sanitize all user-provided input through proper parameter validation, implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and employ proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content. Security patches should be applied to update the application to a version that addresses this specific XSS vulnerability, as the vendor likely released a fix for this issue in subsequent versions. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input parameters and application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content, and T1059 which involves executing malicious code through command-line interfaces, making it a critical concern for both defensive and offensive security teams.