CVE-2014-7261 in i-HTTPD
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ULTRAPOP.JP i-HTTPD allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted string that is improperly rendered during construction of a directory index page, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-7263.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2018
The CVE-2014-7261 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the ULTRAPOP.JP i-HTTPD web server software that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected users' browsers. This vulnerability specifically impacts the directory index page generation functionality where user-supplied input containing crafted strings is improperly handled during the construction of web pages. The vulnerability exists in the web server's rendering engine which fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. Unlike similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2014-7263, this particular flaw is isolated to the directory listing page construction process, making it distinct in its scope and implementation context. The affected system processes directory listings where filenames, paths, or other metadata elements may contain malicious payloads that are directly rendered without proper input validation or output encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious string that, when processed by the i-HTTPD server, gets embedded directly into the HTML output of directory index pages. This improper rendering allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other malicious content that executes within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the web server's directory listing functionality, where user-supplied data elements are treated as trusted content rather than potentially malicious input. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper output escaping or encoding of user-supplied data. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 reflects the fundamental security principle that all user input must be treated as untrusted and properly sanitized before inclusion in web page output.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7261 extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data, session hijacking capabilities, and the ability to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. When victims browse directory listings containing malicious content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to cookie theft, redirection to malicious sites, or modification of web page content. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web servers. This flaw compromises the integrity of the web application's output and can be leveraged for various attack vectors including phishing, credential theft, and persistent malicious presence on affected systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where directory browsing is enabled and where users may encounter unexpected content during navigation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7261 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the i-HTTPD server's directory listing functionality. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied data elements are properly sanitized before being incorporated into HTML output, utilizing established encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for special characters. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while disabling directory browsing where possible eliminates the attack surface entirely. Security patches and updates from the vendor should be applied immediately to address the vulnerability, and regular security assessments should verify that similar input handling flaws do not exist in other components of the web server. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent XSS attacks, with recommendations aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for credential access through web application attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.