CVE-2014-10036 in TeamCity
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in JetBrains TeamCity before 8.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cameFromUrl parameter to feed/generateFeedUrl.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-10036 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in JetBrains TeamCity version 8.1 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk to organizations relying on this continuous integration and deployment platform. This vulnerability specifically affects the feed/generateFeedUrl.html endpoint within the TeamCity web interface, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit the weakness without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system. The flaw resides in the improper validation and sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the cameFromUrl parameter that is processed by the system's feed generation functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When an attacker submits a malicious payload through the cameFromUrl parameter, the system processes this input without adequate sanitization measures, allowing arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code to be executed within the context of a victim's browser session. This occurs because the application treats the parameter value as trusted input and directly embeds it into the response without proper encoding or validation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of unsafe data handling in web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially gaining access to sensitive project configurations, build artifacts, source code repositories, or administrative functions within TeamCity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TeamCity is often used in enterprise environments where it may have access to critical development infrastructure and sensitive business data. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited in combination with other attacks to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the development ecosystem.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to TeamCity version 8.1 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization measures. The fix typically involves implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied input parameters before they are rendered in web responses, as recommended by OWASP secure coding practices and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while application-level controls should enforce strict input validation and output encoding policies. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to ensure similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the development infrastructure, as this type of flaw demonstrates the importance of maintaining secure coding practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle.