CVE-2014-9017 in OpenKM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in OpenKM before 6.4.19 (build 23338) allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Subject field in a Task to frontend/index.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2022
The CVE-2014-9017 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in OpenKM document management system versions prior to 6.4.19. This vulnerability specifically affects the task management functionality within the application's frontend interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability exists in the handling of user input within the Subject field of tasks, which are processed through the frontend/index.jsp endpoint. This particular attack vector demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become dangerous entry points when proper sanitization and validation mechanisms are absent from the application's security architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Subject field in task creation or modification processes. When authenticated users interact with the task management interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. This insufficient input validation creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed when other users view the affected task entries. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authentication, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user credentials can leverage this flaw to compromise other users within the same system. The attack surface is further extended because the vulnerability affects the frontend index.jsp page, which typically serves as a central interface for user interactions, making the potential damage scope broader than a simple isolated injection point.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on OpenKM for document management and collaboration. The ability for authenticated users to inject malicious scripts means that attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of victims through the browser's context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. This particular implementation flaw allows for persistent XSS attacks where malicious code can remain embedded in the application's data stores and execute each time affected pages are loaded. The security implications extend beyond immediate script execution, as the vulnerability could enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration through browser-based attacks.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-9017 requires immediate patching of the OpenKM application to version 6.4.19 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that properly encode or sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or storing it within the application. The solution should incorporate proper HTML escaping techniques and utilize Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding patterns throughout the application, particularly in areas where user-generated content is processed. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for defensive measures, particularly in the context of web application security where persistent XSS vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for more comprehensive attacks. Organizations should also implement regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, as this flaw illustrates how common input validation failures can create persistent security risks in enterprise document management systems.