CVE-2014-8267 in QPR
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in QPR Portal 2014.1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the RID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The CVE-2014-8267 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in QPR Portal versions 2014.1.1 and earlier, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of the RID parameter, which serves as a unique identifier for requests within the portal environment. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code directly into the application's response stream, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the RID parameter processing logic. When the application receives a request containing an unvalidated RID parameter, it fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers when they interact with the vulnerable portal. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, malicious links, or compromised web pages that direct users to the vulnerable endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, manipulate application data, or redirect users to malicious sites. Given that QPR Portal is typically used for business process management and workflow automation, the compromise of user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to critical business processes and sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the portal, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users access the same system simultaneously.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is categorized under the OWASP Top Ten as one of the most prevalent web application security risks. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage XSS vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in victim browsers. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and content security policies to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to QPR Portal version 2014.2 or later, which contains proper input sanitization mechanisms and parameter validation to prevent malicious code injection attempts.