CVE-2014-5108 in concrete5
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in single_pages\download_file.php in concrete5 before 5.6.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the HTTP Referer header to index.php/download_file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The CVE-2014-5108 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the concrete5 content management system that existed prior to version 5.6.3. This vulnerability specifically targets the single_pages/download_file.php component and exploits the insecure handling of the HTTP Referer header, which is a standard HTTP header field containing information about the address of the page that linked to the current resource. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability operates through the improper sanitization and validation of input data from the HTTP Referer header. When a user navigates to a download file page in concrete5, the system processes the Referer header without adequate filtering or encoding of potentially malicious content. This creates an injection point where an attacker can craft a malicious Referer header value containing JavaScript code or HTML tags that will be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the vulnerable page. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages a header field that is automatically included by web browsers during navigation, making exploitation relatively straightforward and transparent to the attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to phishing sites. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects all users of concrete5 versions prior to 5.6.3, making it a widespread concern for organizations that had not yet applied the security patch. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal cookies, modify page content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, depending on the privileges of the targeted users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to version 5.6.3 or later, as this represents the primary and most effective mitigation strategy. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth measures to prevent similar issues. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for social engineering through malicious links. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious Referer header values, while security teams should monitor for signs of exploitation in their logs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other web applications within the organization's attack surface, as this type of vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web development environments.