CVE-2014-5451 in Revolution
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in manager/templates/default/header.tpl in MODX Revolution 2.3.1-pl and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "a" parameter to manager/. NOTE: this issue exists because of a CVE-2014-2080 regression.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2014-5451 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in MODX Revolution content management system versions 2.3.1-pl and earlier. This security defect resides within the manager/templates/default/header.tpl template file and specifically affects the handling of user input through the "a" parameter in the manager/ URI endpoint. The vulnerability stems from a regression introduced by CVE-2014-2080, indicating that previously addressed security measures were inadvertently reversed or bypassed in the software update process. This creates a dangerous scenario where unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit the flaw to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input from the "a" parameter before rendering it within the header template. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through this parameter, the application processes the input without adequate validation, allowing the injected code to execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected administrative interface. This regression demonstrates a critical failure in the software's input validation mechanisms and highlights the importance of thorough regression testing when implementing security patches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and data within the MODX system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, modify content, or even gain complete control over the affected CMS installation. The vulnerability affects all users who have access to the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators or users interact with the system. This flaw essentially undermines the security model of the CMS, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5451 should prioritize immediate software updates to MODX Revolution versions that address this specific XSS vulnerability and the underlying regression. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly in administrative templates where user input is processed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations must conduct thorough security testing to identify similar regressions in their software supply chain and ensure that security patches are properly applied without introducing new vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for proper access controls and input sanitization to prevent exploitation of such web application flaws.