CVE-2014-100038 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 search parameter to search/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within Storytlr version 1.3.dev and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the search parameter to the search/ endpoint, creating an avenue for persistent script injection attacks that can compromise user data and session integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Storytlr application's search functionality. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization measures, allowing attackers to embed malicious javascript code or html content that gets executed in the browsers of other users who view the search results. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate web page content, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create persistent backdoors, redirect users to malicious websites, or extract cookies and authentication tokens that could lead to full account compromise. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected Storytlr versions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the application's search functionality.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that properly escape special characters in user-supplied content. The application should employ strict whitelisting of acceptable input patterns and implement comprehensive content security policies to prevent script execution in search results. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting known XSS attack patterns, as well as conducting regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage client-side vulnerabilities to execute malicious code within user browsers. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the affected Storytlr versions, along with comprehensive security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.