CVE-2014-2214 in POSH
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in POSH (aka Posh portal or Portaneo) 3.0 through 3.2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) error parameter to /includes/plugins/mobile/scripts/login.php or (2) id parameter to portal/openrssarticle.php
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2014-2214 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting POSH portal versions 3.0 through 3.2.1, specifically targeting the mobile plugin authentication mechanism and RSS article viewing functionality. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a persistent threat that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim's browsers. The POSH portal, also known as Portaneo, is a web-based content management system that provides portal functionality for organizations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous users accessing the platform through mobile devices or RSS feeds.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage improper input validation within the application's core components. The first vector targets the error parameter in the mobile scripts login.php file located at /includes/plugins/mobile/scripts/login.php, while the second vector exploits the id parameter in portal/openrssarticle.php. Both attack paths demonstrate the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This lack of input validation creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of legitimate users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2214 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent security risks for organizations utilizing POSH portal systems. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent backdoors, steal user sessions, or manipulate portal content to redirect users to malicious sites. The mobile-specific attack vector particularly concerns security professionals as it targets users accessing the portal through mobile devices, which often have less sophisticated security measures than desktop environments. The RSS article viewing component represents another attack surface where users might inadvertently encounter malicious scripts when viewing articles from compromised sources, making this vulnerability particularly insidious as it can be exploited through legitimate content consumption patterns.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers could use the XSS payloads to execute malicious commands within victim browsers. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify user permissions or access restricted portal features. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent such vulnerabilities, following OWASP recommendations for XSS prevention including the use of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected POSH portal versions and implementation of strict parameter validation across all user input points, particularly those used in dynamic content generation and mobile interface components.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in content management systems, particularly those with mobile and RSS integration features. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their portal infrastructure and implement automated monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can create significant security risks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing of web application interfaces. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes become critical for preventing exploitation of such flaws that may remain undetected for extended periods, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with portal systems through various access points including mobile devices and RSS feed readers.