CVE-2014-1224 in Recruitment
Summary
by MITRE
Incomplete blacklist vulnerability in the user registration feature in rexx Recruitment R6.1 and R7 without "fixes from 2014-01-15" allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the oninput event handler in the fname parameter to the default URI in /reg.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1224 represents a critical security flaw in the rexx Recruitment software version 6.1 and 7.0, specifically affecting the user registration functionality. This issue stems from an incomplete blacklist implementation that fails to properly sanitize user input, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core registration process, which is typically one of the most accessed features on recruitment platforms, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or extract sensitive information.
The technical flaw manifests through the fname parameter in the registration URI path, where the application fails to adequately filter or escape user-supplied input containing the oninput event handler. This incomplete blacklist approach means that the system only blocks specific known malicious patterns while allowing others to pass through undetected. The oninput event handler is particularly dangerous because it executes JavaScript code whenever the user inputs data into the field, providing attackers with a direct method to inject malicious scripts. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability directly maps to Cross-Site Scripting flaws where the application fails to properly sanitize user-controllable data, and the incomplete blacklist pattern aligns with CWE-173, which addresses improper handling of input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The fact that this affects the registration process means that attackers could potentially compromise new user accounts during the registration phase, or use the vulnerability to target existing users who might be logged in. The vulnerability affects all versions of rexx Recruitment prior to the January 15, 2014 security fixes, indicating that organizations running these older versions face significant risk. This type of vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of cross-site scripting to establish persistence or escalate privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques. Organizations should immediately apply the security patches released on January 15, 2014, or implement a robust whitelist approach that only allows safe characters and patterns in user input. The recommended solution involves using proper HTML encoding for all user-controllable data before rendering it in the browser, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conducting thorough input sanitization that goes beyond simple blacklist approaches. Additionally, organizations should perform regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code reviews to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the need for defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple layers of protection rather than relying on single-point defenses like incomplete blacklists.