CVE-2014-7263 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 HTTP header, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-7261.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2018
The CVE-2014-7263 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 a victim's browser. This vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP header processing mechanism of the i-HTTPD server, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted HTTP headers. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation weakness where the server fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses, creating an avenue for malicious code execution.
This vulnerability operates through the exploitation of improper data sanitization within the HTTP header handling components of the ULTRAPOP.JP i-HTTPD server. When the server processes incoming HTTP requests containing maliciously crafted headers, it fails to adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags by web browsers. The attack vector specifically leverages HTTP header injection techniques where attackers can manipulate header values to inject script code that executes in the victim's browser context. This represents a Type 1 cross-site scripting vulnerability as defined by the CWE taxonomy under CWE-79, which focuses on improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7263 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments. Depending on the implementation, successful exploitation could allow attackers to access user sessions, modify web content, or redirect users to phishing sites, compromising both user privacy and system integrity. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2014-7261 demonstrates that while both issues affect the same software, they exploit different code paths within the i-HTTPD server, indicating a broader class of input validation issues that require comprehensive remediation.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of the i-HTTPD software to address the specific header processing flaw. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened throughout the application stack, particularly focusing on HTTP header sanitization as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security controls. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional protection by monitoring for suspicious header patterns and blocking known malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive threat detection strategies. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation routines should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web infrastructure, ensuring that the remediation efforts address the root cause rather than just the symptoms of the issue.