CVE-2014-4743 in Kajona
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in (1) search_ajax.tpl and (2) search_ajax_small.tpl in templates/default/tpl/module_search/ in the Search module (module_search) in Kajona before 4.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4743 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the Kajona content management system prior to version 4.5. This flaw exists within the Search module's template files, specifically in search_ajax.tpl and search_ajax_small.tpl located in the templates/default/tpl/module_search/ directory. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through the search parameter, which then gets reflected back to other users browsing the affected pages, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic reflected XSS pattern where user input flows directly from the search parameter through the application's processing logic and back into the HTML response without proper sanitization. The affected template files serve as the execution point where unfiltered search queries are embedded into the page structure, creating a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. This flaw operates at the application layer and affects the web interface directly, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through simple web requests without requiring complex exploitation techniques or privileged access. The vulnerability impacts all users of Kajona versions before 4.5, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling attackers to perform actions on behalf of victims.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4743 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially elevated privileges within the application environment. An attacker could craft malicious search queries that, when executed by other users, would execute arbitrary code in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious payloads could remain active for extended periods, continuously compromising users who encounter the infected search results.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Kajona installations to version 4.5 or later where the XSS protections have been implemented. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their Kajona installations to identify any other potentially affected components, while also establishing monitoring procedures to detect suspicious search queries that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application codebase.