CVE-2014-8869 in Tapatalk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in mobiquo/smartbanner/welcome.php in the Tapatalk (com.tapatalk.wbb4) plugin 1.x before 1.1.2 for Woltlab Burning Board 4.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) app_android_id or (2) app_kindle_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The CVE-2014-8869 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Tapatalk plugin for Woltlab Burning Board 4.0 platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects the mobiquo/smartbanner/welcome.php script within the com.tapatalk.wbb4 plugin version 1.x before 1.1.2, creating a significant security risk for forum administrators and users who rely on this popular mobile integration tool. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. The affected parameters app_android_id and app_kindle_url represent entry points where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire forum platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are processed by the vulnerable script without adequate security controls. When the application receives these parameters containing malicious payloads, the insecure code fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into the HTML response. This allows attackers to inject JavaScript code or other malicious content that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected pages. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and demonstrates a classic example of insufficient output escaping in web applications. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as attackers can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for Woltlab Burning Board 4.0 installations using the affected Tapatalk plugin version. Users who visit pages containing the vulnerable parameters become potential victims of persistent XSS attacks, where malicious scripts can execute in their browsers and compromise their security. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, modify forum content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected installations, making it particularly dangerous for community forums where users trust the platform's security. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability falls within the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Spoofed Delivery" and T1584.002 for "Compromise of Web Applications" as it enables the creation of malicious web content that can be delivered through legitimate forum interfaces. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by its location within a commonly used mobile integration component, meaning that the attack surface is not limited to traditional web browsing but extends to mobile applications that utilize the same backend infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Tapatalk plugin version 1.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Input validation and sanitization measures should be implemented at the application level to prevent malicious content from being processed, while proper output encoding should be enforced when rendering user-supplied data. Network-based solutions such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though these should not be considered a complete substitute for proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in the affected parameters, and user education regarding suspicious links or content should be maintained. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant risks for entire user communities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the forum platform, ensuring comprehensive protection against evolving threat landscapes.