CVE-2014-5027 in Board
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Review Board 1.7.x before 1.7.27 and 2.0.x before 2.0.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a query parameter to a diff fragment page.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2017
The CVE-2014-5027 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Review Board versions prior to 1.7.27 and 2.0.4. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of query parameters within diff fragment pages, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation occurs when attackers craft malicious query parameters that are processed by the Review Board application's diff fragment page handler. These parameters contain embedded HTML or JavaScript code that gets rendered directly into the page without adequate sanitization or output encoding. When a victim accesses a specially crafted URL containing these malicious parameters, the browser executes the injected script within the victim's session context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to leverage the victim's authenticated session to perform actions within the Review Board environment. This could include accessing sensitive code reviews, modifying review data, or extracting confidential information from the system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Review Board serves as a code collaboration platform with multiple users. The vulnerability affects both the 1.7.x and 2.0.x release lines, indicating a widespread issue across the application's architecture that impacts organizations using these versions for code review processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions 1.7.27 and 2.0.4, which contain proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious query parameter patterns, deploying content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the execution of malicious code through web application interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar XSS vulnerabilities in their web applications and establish proper input validation procedures that align with industry standards for secure software development practices.