CVE-2014-8365 in Contact Us
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Xornic Contact Us allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name or (2) email parameter to contact.php or (3) PATH_INFO to setup.php, related to the "PHP_SELF" variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8365 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Xornic Contact Us web application, exposing users to potential malicious code execution through web-based attacks. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input parameters, specifically targeting the name and email fields in contact.php and the PATH_INFO variable in setup.php. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the application's response. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the PHP_SELF variable, which contains the script name and path information, allowing them to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the application's output. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize output, specifically manifesting as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are directly incorporated into the application's response without proper sanitization. When a user submits data through the contact form, the name and email parameters are processed and displayed back to the user or other visitors without adequate filtering of potentially malicious content. Similarly, the PATH_INFO parameter in setup.php, which contains information about the requested script path, becomes vulnerable when the PHP_SELF variable is used to construct dynamic content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to inject JavaScript code that can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation where the application fails to properly escape or encode user data before incorporating it into dynamic HTML content, creating a persistent XSS attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and potentially compromise the entire web application infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of any user's browser who visits the affected pages, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and potential privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects both the contact form functionality and the setup process, meaning that any user interacting with these components could be exposed to malicious code execution. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring any special privileges or access to the server itself, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers can craft payloads that appear legitimate to users while executing malicious code in their browsers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8365 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input parameters before processing and rendering them in the application's response, specifically ensuring that the PHP_SELF variable and PATH_INFO parameters are properly escaped when used in HTML contexts. Organizations should implement strict content security policies that prevent the execution of inline scripts and enforce proper input validation using established libraries and frameworks. The application should employ proper output encoding for all dynamic content, particularly when incorporating user-supplied data into HTML attributes, script contexts, and URL parameters. Additionally, developers should consider implementing a web application firewall to monitor and filter suspicious requests, while also ensuring that all application components are regularly updated and patched against known vulnerabilities. The implementation of a robust security testing regimen including automated scanning and manual penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and prevent exploitation through proper security hardening practices.