CVE-2014-9367 in TWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Incomplete blacklist vulnerability in the urlEncode function in lib/TWiki.pm in TWiki 6.0.0 and 6.0.1 allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via a " " (single quote) in the scope parameter to do/view/TWiki/WebSearch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9367 represents a critical security flaw in the TWiki web application platform that affects versions 6.0.0 and 6.0.1. This issue manifests as an incomplete blacklist implementation within the urlEncode function located in the lib/TWiki.pm file, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the scope parameter within the do/view/TWiki/WebSearch endpoint, where the insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through single quote characters.
The technical flaw stems from the inadequate filtering mechanism that fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. When a user submits a request containing a single quote character within the scope parameter, the incomplete blacklist does not adequately block or encode this potentially dangerous input. This oversight creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The urlEncode function's failure to maintain a comprehensive blacklist means that certain character sequences can bypass the intended security measures, allowing the malicious payload to persist and execute when other users view the affected web page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent sessions within victim browsers and potentially escalate privileges within the TWiki environment. The XSS attack vector allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and the execution of arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on TWiki for collaborative content management, as compromised systems can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the injection of malicious content. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of TWiki where the urlEncode function has been properly updated with comprehensive blacklists and enhanced encoding routines. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, while ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566 for credential access through social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns and maintain regular security audits to identify similar incomplete blacklist vulnerabilities across their web applications.