CVE-2014-100030 in Ganesha Digital Library
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in module/search/function.php in Ganesha Digital Library (GDL) 4.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keyword parameter in a ByEge action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-100030 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ganesha Digital Library version 4.2 platform, specifically affecting the module/search/function.php component. This security weakness resides in the handling of user input parameters during search operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the ByEge action processes the keyword parameter without adequate sanitization or output encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can persist and execute in the victim's browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code within the keyword parameter of the search functionality. When the vulnerable application processes this input and displays it in the search results or related pages without proper HTML encoding or sanitization, the injected script executes in the browser context of any user who views the affected content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages legitimate application functionality to deliver malicious code, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. An attacker could potentially steal user session cookies, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and access restricted content or perform unauthorized actions within the digital library system. The persistent nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities in this context means that once the malicious payload is injected, it remains active and executable for all users who encounter the affected search results, creating a continuous threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the GDL platform, undermining the trust users place in the system's security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's search functionality. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those that are directly rendered in HTML output, using proper HTML encoding techniques such as htmlspecialchars() or equivalent functions. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The development team should also consider implementing proper input length limits and character validation to prevent overly long or malformed inputs from reaching the vulnerable code paths. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar issues in other components of the GDL platform, ensuring comprehensive protection against various attack vectors including reflected and stored XSS vulnerabilities.