CVE-2014-9243 in WebsiteBaker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in WebsiteBaker 2.8.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) QUERY_STRING to wb/admin/admintools/tool.php or (2) section_id parameter to edit_module_files.php, (3) news/add_post.php, (4) news/modify_group.php, (5) news/modify_post.php, or (6) news/modify_settings.php in wb/modules/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The CVE-2014-9243 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting WebsiteBaker 2.8.3 content management system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's administrative interfaces and news management modules. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability manifests across multiple endpoints within the wb/modules/ directory, specifically targeting administrative tools and content management interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper sanitization of user-supplied input parameters. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads in the QUERY_STRING parameter when accessing wb/admin/admintools/tool.php or by manipulating the section_id parameter in edit_module_files.php. Additionally, the news management components including news/add_post.php, news/modify_group.php, news/modify_post.php, and news/modify_settings.php all present injection vectors for cross-site scripting attacks. These endpoints fail to properly validate or escape user input before rendering it in web pages, creating persistent XSS opportunities that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and administrative privileges. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to steal cookies, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability affects the entire WebsiteBaker administrative ecosystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across multiple administrative functions. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the platform, as attackers can potentially gain persistent access to critical administrative interfaces and manipulate website content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9243 should prioritize immediate patching of the WebsiteBaker 2.8.3 installation to the latest available version that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied parameters, particularly in administrative interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security audits and input sanitization testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns targeting these specific endpoints.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable input before rendering it in web pages. The attack vectors described in CVE-2014-9243 correspond to ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves exploitation of web applications through injection attacks. The widespread nature of the vulnerability across multiple administrative endpoints indicates a systemic flaw in the application's security architecture rather than isolated incidents, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on WebsiteBaker for their web presence. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing client-side attack vectors that can lead to complete system compromise.