CVE-2014-5235 in AppSuite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the frontend in Open-Xchange (OX) AppSuite before 7.4.2-rev33 and 7.6.x before 7.6.0-rev16 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to unspecified fields in RSS feeds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5235 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Open-Xchange AppSuite frontend application. This security weakness affects versions prior to 7.4.2-rev33 and 7.6.x prior to 7.6.0-rev16, creating a significant exposure for organizations relying on this email and collaboration platform. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the handling of RSS feed data, where unspecified fields within these feeds can be manipulated to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the RSS feed processing functionality of the Open-Xchange platform. When the application processes RSS feeds, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data that may be present in unspecified fields within these feeds. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious RSS feeds containing specially formatted payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, execute within the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector is particularly concerning because RSS feeds are commonly consumed by web applications without sufficient security controls, and the unspecified fields provide multiple potential entry points for injection attacks. This vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS issue under the ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering, as attackers can leverage compromised RSS feeds to deliver malicious content to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Users accessing the Open-Xchange AppSuite through vulnerable installations may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can capture their login credentials, monitor their activities, or redirect them to phishing sites. The attack requires minimal privileges as it operates entirely through web-based vectors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may be exposed to compromised RSS feeds from various sources. Organizations utilizing this platform face potential regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if user data is compromised through such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5235 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Open-Xchange AppSuite installations to versions 7.4.2-rev33 or 7.6.0-rev16, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures for all RSS feed processing within their applications, ensuring that any user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also establish robust monitoring procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, including logging and alerting on unusual RSS feed processing activities. Regular security awareness training for administrators and users can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering vectors that may accompany such attacks.