CVE-2014-3897 in Homepage Decorator PerlMailer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Homepage Decorator PerlMailer 3.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2019
The CVE-2014-3897 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Homepage Decorator PerlMailer version 3.10 and earlier systems. This vulnerability exists in the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the application could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for comprehensive assessment and remediation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of input parameters that are processed and displayed within the application's user interface. When users submit data through forms or other interactive elements, the application fails to properly encode or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is not properly escaped or validated, creating a persistent security gap that attackers can exploit through various injection techniques including reflected and stored XSS patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the application's behavior and compromise user sessions. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that, when executed, could redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or modify content displayed to other users. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications. This vulnerability could enable attackers to gain persistent access to user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment, as demonstrated by various attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the web application exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3897 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Homepage Decorator PerlMailer version 3.11 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages will prevent malicious scripts from executing. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers, regular security code reviews, and automated vulnerability scanning tools to detect similar issues in other application components. The remediation process must also include comprehensive user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links and the importance of maintaining updated software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.