CVE-2014-8352 in Cookieviz
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in json.php in French National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (aka CNIL) CookieViz allows remote we servers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the max_date parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8352 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the CookieViz component of the French National Commission on Informatics and Liberty's web infrastructure. This issue specifically affects the json.php script which serves as a backend data processing endpoint for cookie visualization functionality. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web responses. The affected parameter max_date demonstrates a classic XSS vector where malicious input can be seamlessly injected into the application's output stream without proper encoding or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the max_date parameter within the json.php endpoint. When remote attackers submit crafted malicious payloads through this parameter, the application processes the input without adequate sanitization measures, allowing the injected scripts to execute within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where legitimate users who interact with the affected functionality become unwitting participants in the malicious script execution chain. The vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct descendant of the well-known web application security weakness.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions within the CNIL's web environment. The attack surface extends beyond simple script injection to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration operations. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to user accounts, monitor sensitive interactions, or redirect users to malicious domains. The impact is particularly severe given that the affected system handles cookie data visualization, which often contains sensitive user information and tracking data that could be exploited for broader surveillance operations.
The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with the T1059.007 sub-technique related to script-based execution and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as the malicious scripts could be delivered through crafted cookie data. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures including parameterized queries, proper HTML encoding of dynamic content, and content security policies to prevent such injection attacks. The remediation strategy should include immediate patching of the json.php component, implementation of strict input sanitization routines, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payload delivery attempts.