CVE-2014-3207 in SKS Keyserver
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wserver.ml in SKS Keyserver before 1.1.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to pks/lookup/undefined1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The CVE-2014-3207 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the SKS Keyserver software, specifically within the wserver.ml component that governs the pks/lookup/undefined1 endpoint. This vulnerability resides in the server's handling of PATH_INFO parameters, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the server's response handling mechanism. The SKS Keyserver, designed for OpenPGP key distribution and management, processes lookup requests through this vulnerable endpoint, making it susceptible to injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the PATH_INFO parameter passed to the pks/lookup/undefined1 endpoint, allowing them to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the server-side processing layer where input validation should occur before any output generation, creating a direct path for malicious code execution within user browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3207 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate keyserver operations, and potentially escalate privileges within the key management infrastructure. Users interacting with the vulnerable SKS Keyserver could unknowingly execute malicious payloads that compromise their security posture, particularly when the keyserver is used for legitimate cryptographic operations and key distribution. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of public key infrastructure systems, as it allows attackers to manipulate the very data that users rely upon for secure communications and authentication.
Organizations using SKS Keyserver software should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to version 1.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, administrators should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious PATH_INFO patterns, implement strict input sanitization measures, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of their keyserver configurations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers phishing with malicious attachments and links, as attackers could leverage this XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads through compromised keyserver interactions. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while user education regarding the risks of interacting with untrusted keyserver endpoints remains crucial for overall security posture maintenance.