CVE-2014-6296 in WEC Map
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WEC Map (wec_map) extension before 3.0.3 for TYPO3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2018
The CVE-2014-6296 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WEC Map extension for TYPO3 content management systems. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 3.0.3 and exposes web applications to remote code execution through malicious script injection attacks. The flaw resides in the extension's handling of user input within the map functionality, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the WEC Map extension's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when other users view the affected map content. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the extension could be compromised, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or user-generated content that gets rendered in the map interface. This lack of specific vector identification indicates a fundamental flaw in the extension's data sanitization processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using TYPO3 with the WEC Map extension. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can target users from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools and script kiddies.
The impact extends beyond immediate security compromise to include potential business disruption and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations may face data breaches, reputational damage, and legal consequences if user data is compromised through this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the technique of "Cross-site Scripting" with potential for privilege escalation and data exfiltration. Security teams must consider the broader implications of such vulnerabilities within their attack surface, as they often serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the WEC Map extension to version 3.0.3 or later, which addresses the underlying input validation issues. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls, input sanitization at multiple layers, and comprehensive monitoring of user activity. Regular security assessments of third-party extensions and plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices for web application frameworks.