CVE-2014-9120 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Subrion CMS before 3.2.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to subrion/search/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The CVE-2014-9120 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Subrion CMS versions prior to 3.2.3, specifically affecting the search functionality through the PATH_INFO parameter. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes URL parameters, particularly when handling the PATH_INFO component of the request URI. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are passed through the search endpoint, specifically targeting the subrion/search/ path. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response, potentially enabling them to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Subrion CMS application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input received through the PATH_INFO parameter in the search functionality. When a user navigates to the search endpoint with maliciously crafted PATH_INFO data, the application processes this input without adequate validation or output encoding. This processing flaw creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be interpreted as executable script rather than mere data, leading to unauthorized code execution in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core search functionality, which is likely to be frequently accessed and may not be properly protected by typical security measures such as Content Security Policy headers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. Attackers could leverage this flaw to perform session hijacking attacks, steal cookies, or inject malicious advertisements into the search results. The vulnerability also creates potential for more severe attacks such as phishing campaigns or credential theft, as the injected scripts could capture user input or redirect to attacker-controlled domains. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1531 (Account Access Removal), as it enables attackers to execute malicious code and potentially compromise user accounts through session manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9120 should prioritize immediate application updates to Subrion CMS version 3.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly in URL parameters and PATH_INFO components. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and provide additional protection layers. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not be considered a substitute for proper application-level fixes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and regularly reviewing application code for potential security flaws, particularly in web frameworks and content management systems that handle user input through URL parameters.