CVE-2014-5316 in Dotclear
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Dotclear before 2.6.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The CVE-2014-5316 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Dotclear content management system prior to version 2.6.4. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of an XSS attack vector. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within page creation functionality, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators or users create or edit pages within the Dotclear interface without proper input validation mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable system, get executed in the context of other users' browsers. This typically involves embedding script tags or other malicious HTML elements within page content that gets rendered without proper escaping or sanitization. The flaw exists specifically in how the system handles user input during the page creation and rendering processes, where special characters and script tags are not adequately filtered or escaped before being stored and displayed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive administrative functions. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user data or administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 2.6.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side validation, along with proper HTML escaping for all user-generated content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection by restricting script execution within the application context. Security monitoring should include regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify similar issues in other web applications. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with social engineering, highlighting the need for both technical and user awareness measures to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the principle of defense in depth for web application security.