CVE-2014-2963 in Liferay Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in group/control_panel/manage in Liferay Portal 6.1.2 CE GA3, 6.1.X EE, and 6.2.X EE allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) _2_firstName, (2) _2_lastName, or (3) _2_middleName parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2014-2963 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Liferay Portal versions 6.1.2 CE GA3, 6.1.X EE, and 6.2.X EE affecting the group/control_panel/manage functionality. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack vector that enables remote code execution through web script injection. The flaw manifests when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, creating a persistent security risk for all users interacting with the affected portal components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific parameters within the control panel management interface: _2_firstName, _2_lastName, and _2_middleName. Attackers can exploit these fields by injecting malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected pages. This injection occurs because the application fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for user-entered data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it operates within the administrative control panel, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive user information through session hijacking techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2963 extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a vector for more sophisticated attacks within the Liferay Portal environment. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can leverage the XSS to execute malicious commands through browser-based interfaces. The implications include potential data exfiltration, session manipulation, and privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire portal infrastructure. Organizations using affected Liferay versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in enterprise environments where the portal serves as a central hub for business operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass immediate patch application to the affected Liferay Portal versions, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing parameters, and establishing proper web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution and conduct regular security assessments of portal components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization in enterprise web applications, aligning with OWASP Top Ten security principles and emphasizing the need for continuous security monitoring and vulnerability management processes.