CVE-2014-2971 in iComplaints
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in AddStdLetter.jsp in MicroPact iComplaints before 8.0.2.1.8.8014 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the description parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The CVE-2014-2971 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in MicroPact iComplaints version 8.0.2.1.8.8014 and earlier releases. This vulnerability exists within the AddStdLetter.jsp component, which serves as a core functionality for managing standard letters within the complaints management system. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the description parameter, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all users interacting with the compromised application interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any legitimate user with access to the system can potentially leverage this weakness to compromise other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The description parameter in AddStdLetter.jsp does not adequately filter or encode user-supplied content, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges beyond standard user authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same system. The attack vector specifically targets the web application's input handling mechanisms, where user-entered data is not appropriately escaped or validated before being stored and subsequently displayed.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2971 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. When authenticated users view compromised content containing malicious scripts, these scripts execute in their browsers with the same privileges as the legitimate user, potentially allowing attackers to access confidential data, modify records, or perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability can be exploited to create persistent backdoors, redirect users to malicious websites, or harvest session cookies that could be used to impersonate legitimate users. Given that this affects a complaints management system, the potential for sensitive data exposure is particularly severe, as users may enter confidential information about their complaints that could be intercepted or manipulated by attackers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly within the description parameter field. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of input data, applying proper HTML encoding before rendering any user-provided content, and ensuring that all parameters are validated against expected data formats. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include updating to MicroPact iComplaints version 8.0.2.1.8.8014 or later, which contains patches specifically addressing this XSS vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the application and implement comprehensive security awareness training for users to recognize and report suspicious activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the techniques related to command injection and credential access.