CVE-2014-1238 in Q-Pulse
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ui/common/managedlistdialog.aspx in Gael Q-Pulse 0.6 and earlier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1238 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located within the Gael Q-Pulse application version 0.6 and earlier. This issue resides in the ui/common/managedlistdialog.aspx component which serves as a user interface element for managing list dialog functionalities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web application's response. This particular XSS vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into otherwise trusted websites. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a core management interface component that likely handles user data and administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets processed by the managedlistdialog.aspx page without proper sanitization. The flaw exists because the application does not adequately encode or escape special characters in user-provided content before displaying it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject script tags or other malicious code that executes when the page loads in a victim's browser. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is typically delivered through crafted URLs or form submissions that are immediately reflected back to the user. The attack vector often involves tricking users into clicking malicious links or submitting forms that contain the injected scripts, making this a significant threat to user security and application integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it compromises the fundamental security model of the application. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, modify user interface elements, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions that appear to originate from legitimate users. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the application and could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or complete compromise of user accounts. The affected version range of 0.6 and earlier suggests this was a long-standing issue that may have affected numerous installations. The vulnerability's presence in a management dialog component increases the potential impact as it could provide attackers with access to administrative functions or sensitive data processing capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for the execution of malicious code and T1566 for the initial compromise through malicious links or content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1238 must focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The primary solution involves ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized and encoded before being rendered in the web interface. This includes implementing comprehensive input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially dangerous characters and sequences. The application should employ context-aware output encoding that adapts the encoding method based on the target context where the data will be displayed. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to a patched version of Gael Q-Pulse where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive code reviews focusing on all user input handling and output rendering processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.