CVE-2014-7291 in LibCal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in api_events.php in Springshare LibCal 2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) m or (2) cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The CVE-2014-7291 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Springshare LibCal 2.0's api_events.php component that exposes web applications to persistent malicious script injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of two parameters - m and cid - which are processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding, creating exploitable entry points for remote attackers. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content, making it susceptible to various forms of malicious code execution. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications where user input is directly reflected back to clients without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious payloads containing script code within the m or cid parameters and submits them to the vulnerable api_events.php endpoint. When the application processes these parameters and includes them in the response without proper encoding, any user who views the affected page becomes vulnerable to script execution in their browser context. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can execute malicious scripts in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7291 is substantial as it affects the core functionality of LibCal's event management system, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of event data and user interactions. Organizations relying on this system face risks of unauthorized access to sensitive information, as the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate event displays and potentially access restricted administrative functions. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain strict network segmentation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media), as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through compromised web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate input validation and output encoding implementation across all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Organizations must implement proper parameter sanitization techniques that remove or encode potentially dangerous characters before processing user input. The recommended approach involves applying context-specific encoding based on the output context where data is rendered, such as HTML encoding for web page content and JavaScript encoding for dynamic script generation. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection layers by restricting script execution sources and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not persist in other components of the application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, with industry standards emphasizing that all user-provided data must be treated as untrusted and properly sanitized before any processing or display occurs.