CVE-2014-5313 in Movabletype
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the management page in Six Apart Movable Type before 5.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The CVE-2014-5313 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the management interface of Six Apart Movable Type content management system prior to version 5.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative pages where authorized users can manage website content and configurations. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. Attackers who have gained authentication credentials can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts or HTML code into the management pages, potentially compromising the entire system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding. This particular flaw operates through unspecified vectors, suggesting that multiple input points within the management interface could serve as attack surfaces. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit it. This authentication bypass aspect makes the vulnerability more accessible than typical XSS flaws that require external user interaction or social engineering.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5313 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised system. An attacker could inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the application. The management interface typically contains sensitive configuration data and administrative controls, making successful exploitation particularly damaging. This vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized content modification, as the attacker gains access to administrative functions that control the entire website's operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Movable Type application to version 5.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices throughout their web applications. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only essential personnel and implementing strong authentication controls. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious script injections and unusual administrative activities. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and ensure that proper security measures are in place to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in accordance with industry standards and best practices.