CVE-2014-10007 in Weblog
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Maian Weblog 4.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name, (2) email, or (3) subject parameter in a contact action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-10007 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Maian Weblog version 4.0 and earlier installations. This flaw resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically targeting parameters used in contact form submissions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of client-side injection attack vector. The affected parameters include name, email, and subject fields within the contact action handler that processes requests through index.php.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious payloads containing embedded script code within the vulnerable input fields. When these inputs are processed and displayed without proper sanitization or encoding, the malicious scripts execute within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can manipulate the web application's behavior to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the application's user interface rendering process, specifically how it handles user-submitted data in contact forms, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that display user-generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access patterns within the application environment, potentially using the XSS vector to deliver additional malware or conduct phishing attacks against other users. The vulnerability's presence in a weblog application means that any visitor who interacts with the contact form becomes a potential victim, creating a wide attack surface. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering through spearphishing, as attackers can use this XSS to create convincing malicious content that appears legitimate to end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-10007 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers must ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, utilizing techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output and strict input validation for all parameters. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts, employing proper parameter validation with whitelisting approaches, and upgrading to the latest version of Maian Weblog where these vulnerabilities have been addressed. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure.