CVE-2014-7293 in OpenSSO Integration
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the logon page in NYU OpenSSO Integration 2.1 and earlier for Ex Libris Patron Directory Services (PDS) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2018
The CVE-2014-7293 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the NYU OpenSSO Integration 2.1 and earlier versions of Ex Libris Patron Directory Services PDS. This vulnerability specifically targets the logon page functionality, creating an exploitable entry point for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of the url parameter, which is processed during the authentication flow. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious URLs containing embedded script payloads that will be executed when the parameter is processed by the vulnerable application. The flaw exists in the server-side handling of user-provided input, where the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it occurs during the authentication process, potentially allowing threat actors to capture session tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the PDS environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the patron directory services. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking attacks, where they intercept and manipulate user sessions to gain unauthorized access to patron records and directory information. The vulnerability's presence in the logon page creates a prime opportunity for attackers to establish persistent access to the system, potentially leading to data exfiltration or unauthorized modifications of patron data. Additionally, the XSS flaw can be combined with other attack techniques to create more complex threats, such as credential theft or redirection to phishing pages that appear legitimate to users. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1531 for credential access, demonstrating how a single XSS vulnerability can serve as a foundation for broader compromise activities. The attack can be executed without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows adversaries to exploit the vulnerability from any network position.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7293 should focus on immediate patching and input validation improvements to prevent the exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of NYU OpenSSO Integration and Ex Libris Patron Directory Services PDS to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms is essential, ensuring that all user-provided parameters including the url parameter are properly sanitized before processing. The application should employ strict content security policies and implement proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content generated in response to user input. Security headers such as Content Security Policy (CSP) should be configured to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's authentication and input handling components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability. The remediation efforts should also include security awareness training for developers to ensure proper input validation practices are followed during application development and maintenance cycles, preventing similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.