CVE-2014-100021 in OrangeHRM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in symfony/web/index.php/pim/viewEmployeeList in OrangeHRM before 3.1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the empsearch[employee_name][empId] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the OrangeHRM web application version 3.1.1 and earlier, specifically in the symfony/web/index.php/pim/viewEmployeeList endpoint. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context. The vulnerable parameter empsearch[employee_name][empId] accepts arbitrary input that gets directly incorporated into the HTML response without proper sanitization, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XSS pattern where malicious input is accepted through a web form or URL parameter and subsequently executed within the browser context of authenticated users. This particular flaw falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where user-controllable data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in HTML output. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the OrangeHRM environment. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify employee records if the application lacks proper access controls. The vulnerability affects the employee list viewing functionality which is a core feature of OrangeHRM's human resources management system, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information or manipulate employee data. This represents a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity within enterprise environments that rely on OrangeHRM for HR management.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in search and filter functions. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML escaping routines and validating input against whitelisted character sets before rendering any user-controllable data in web responses. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using modern web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through crafted employee search parameters, and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, if attackers attempt to establish command and control channels through the compromised application. Organizations should also ensure that all web applications undergo regular security testing and that input validation is implemented consistently across all application components rather than relying on per-function sanitization.