CVE-2014-3924 in Usermin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Webmin before 1.690 and Usermin before 1.600 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to popup windows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3924 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Webmin versions prior to 1.690 and Usermin versions prior to 1.600. This vulnerability resides in the handling of popup window functionality within these web-based administration tools, creating a significant security risk for systems that rely on these interfaces for remote management. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive system information and administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the popup window mechanisms of both Webmin and Usermin. When these applications process user-provided data for display in popup interfaces, they fail to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness specifically manifests when the applications receive parameters or content that should be displayed in popup windows without sufficient sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled input can be executed as client-side scripts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that enables XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of compromised systems. An attacker could craft malicious popup content that redirects users to phishing sites, steals session cookies, or executes additional malicious payloads that could escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose these administration interfaces to the internet. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious JavaScript code within legitimate user sessions.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Webmin or Usermin face significant exposure to credential theft, session hijacking, and potential system compromise through this vulnerability. The attack surface is particularly broad since these administration tools are commonly used for managing critical system components, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. Remediation efforts should prioritize immediate patching to versions 1.690 for Webmin and 1.600 for Usermin, as these releases contain the necessary input validation fixes and output encoding improvements. Additional mitigations include implementing proper web application firewalls, restricting access to these interfaces through network segmentation, and establishing robust monitoring for suspicious popup-related activity. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web-based administration tools within their infrastructure.