CVE-2014-4734 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in e107_admin/db.php in e107 2.0 alpha2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the type parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The CVE-2014-4734 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the e107 content management system version 2.0 alpha2 and earlier. This vulnerability exists within the administrative database management file db.php, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the backend administrative interface of the system. The flaw specifically affects the type parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or output sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within the e107 administrative database interface. When the type parameter is passed to db.php, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before processing it in the web response. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that will execute in the browser of any user who accesses the affected administrative pages. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where user-controllable input directly influences the output without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw can gain elevated privileges within the administrative interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The malicious scripts injected through the type parameter could redirect administrators to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or execute commands on the server. This vulnerability particularly threatens the integrity of the administrative backend where sensitive system configurations and user data are managed. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious payload is delivered through a crafted URL that, when accessed by an administrator, executes the malicious code in their browser context.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable input in web applications. The attack vector maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as the exploitation involves injecting JavaScript code that executes within the browser environment. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1548.002: Abusing Accessibility Features, as it could potentially be used to create persistent access through browser-based payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4734 should include immediate patching of the e107 system to version 2.0 alpha3 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all parameters processed in administrative interfaces. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-controllable inputs through proper HTML entity encoding and implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the web application stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.