CVE-2014-8658 in Original Theme
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in RefinedWiki Original Theme 3.x before 3.5.13 and 4.x before 4.0.12 for Confluence allows remote authenticated users with permissions to create or edit content to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the versionComment parameter to pages/doeditpage.action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-8658 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the RefinedWiki Original Theme for Atlassian Confluence platform. This issue affects versions 3.x prior to 3.5.13 and 4.x prior to 4.0.12, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these specific versions of the Confluence wiki system. The vulnerability specifically targets the versionComment parameter within the pages/doeditpage.action endpoint, which is commonly used when users modify content within Confluence. The flaw enables authenticated users who possess permissions to create or edit content to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the system, potentially compromising the security of the entire Confluence environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Confluence application's handling of the versionComment parameter. When users submit content modifications through the doeditpage.action endpoint, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. This inadequate sanitization process creates an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, particularly those who view the modified content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a Cross-Site Scripting flaw, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector since the malicious content is processed and reflected back to users through the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the Confluence environment. An authenticated attacker could craft malicious version comments containing JavaScript payloads that would execute whenever other users view the affected pages, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions within the Confluence system. The attack requires only basic permissions to create or edit content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who should normally have limited privileges within the system. This vulnerability essentially allows for privilege escalation through social engineering and script execution, as the malicious code can persist and affect multiple users who encounter the compromised content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to the patched versions of RefinedWiki Original Theme, specifically versions 3.5.13 and 4.0.12 respectively. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper input validation measures at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied content undergoes strict sanitization before being stored or displayed. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script patterns in HTTP requests, particularly those targeting the pages/doeditpage.action endpoint. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their Confluence installations to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities, as this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper output encoding and input validation in web applications, as recommended by OWASP guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks.