CVE-2014-4744 in osTicket
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in osTicket before 1.9.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Phone Number field to open.php or (2) Phone number field, (3) passwd1 field, (4) passwd2 field, or (5) do parameter to account.php.
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-2014-4744 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting osTicket versions prior to 1.9.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as stored XSS attacks that can persist in the application's database. The flaw exists in the input validation mechanisms of the web application, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts through multiple entry points within the system's user interface and administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through five distinct attack vectors within the osTicket application. The first vector targets the Phone Number field in the open.php script, while the second and third vectors exploit the Phone number field, passwd1 field, and passwd2 field in the account.php script. The fifth vector utilizes the do parameter within account.php, all of which fail to properly sanitize user input before processing. These entry points represent common weaknesses in web application security where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the osTicket system. The stored nature of the XSS means that once injected, malicious scripts will execute whenever any user views the affected pages, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage.
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities requires minimal technical skill, making them particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may not be fully aware of the security implications. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to end users, potentially leading to successful social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability affects both user-facing interfaces and administrative functions, creating a comprehensive attack surface that could compromise the entire ticketing system. Organizations using affected versions of osTicket face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive customer information or internal communications.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to osTicket version 1.9.2 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied data. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security auditing of web applications can help prevent similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns should also be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.