CVE-2014-5259 in BlackCat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cattranslate.php in the CatTranslate JQuery plugin in BlackCat CMS 1.0.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2014-5259 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the CatTranslate jQuery plugin component of BlackCat CMS versions 1.0.3 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the cattranslate.php file which processes user input through the msg parameter without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically categorized as a reflected XSS attack vector where malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper output encoding or filtering. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the CMS interface, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input received through the msg parameter in the cattranslate.php script. When users interact with the translation functionality, the application accepts the msg parameter directly from HTTP requests and incorporates it into the page response without appropriate HTML escaping or context-aware encoding. This lack of input validation creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a content management system where users may have elevated privileges, allowing for potential privilege escalation or data exfiltration attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the CMS environment. An attacker could inject malicious JavaScript that steals session cookies, redirects users to phishing sites, or even executes commands on the server if additional vulnerabilities exist. The reflected nature of the XSS means that successful exploitation requires social engineering to convince users to click on malicious links, but once triggered, the attack can persist across multiple user sessions. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and can facilitate later stages such as credential access and persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5259 should focus on immediate patching of the BlackCat CMS to version 1.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including HTML escaping of all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages, and employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution capabilities. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all plugin components to identify similar input handling issues, and implementation of automated security testing including dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools to detect similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education regarding suspicious links and attachments remains crucial for defense in depth. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.