CVE-2014-4304 in SQL Buddy
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in browse.php in SQL Buddy 1.3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the table parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4304 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SQL Buddy web application framework version 1.3.3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the browse.php script which serves as a core component for database browsing functionality. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the table parameter, creating an exploitable condition that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. This vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the table parameter value. When the vulnerable SQL Buddy application processes this parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding, the malicious content gets executed within the context of other users' browsers who subsequently access the affected page. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely on the client-side without requiring any server-side authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the application's structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user sessions, steal sensitive database connection information, or even escalate privileges within the application if the user has administrative capabilities. The vulnerability affects all users of SQL Buddy versions up to 1.3.3, creating a widespread exposure across organizations that have not updated their installations. This represents a significant security risk particularly in environments where database administrators might access sensitive information through the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4304 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to the latest stable versions of SQL Buddy where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within the application context. This includes implementing strict parameter validation for the table parameter and applying context-specific encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for web content output. Additionally, security headers including Content Security Policy (CSP) can be implemented to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against script injection attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely deployed web applications, aligning with best practices recommended in the ATT&CK framework for web application security controls.