CVE-2014-100037 in Storytlr
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Storytlr 1.3.dev and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to archives/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within Storytlr version 1.3.dev and earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input received through the PATH_INFO parameter, which is then processed and displayed within the archives/ endpoint. This weakness creates an exploitable vector where attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that will execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who access the vulnerable application.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the Storytlr application's handling of PATH_INFO parameters. When the application processes requests to the archives/ endpoint, it directly incorporates user-supplied PATH_INFO data into the HTTP response without proper encoding or filtering. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other potentially harmful content that gets executed in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous as it can persistently affect any user who visits the compromised page.
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, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft payloads that steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users, potentially leading to full account compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited to deface the application, inject malicious advertisements, or create backdoor access points within the compromised environment. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple versions of Storytlr indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that requires immediate attention.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being processed or displayed. The application should sanitize all user-supplied input, particularly PATH_INFO parameters, by implementing strict validation rules and HTML encoding before rendering any content. Security patches should be applied to upgrade to versions of Storytlr that address this vulnerability, while also implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense layers. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities within their application stack, following established security frameworks such as those defined by the CWE database and ATT&CK methodology for comprehensive threat mitigation.