CVE-2014-9649 in RabbitMQ
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the management plugin in RabbitMQ 2.1.0 through 3.4.x before 3.4.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path info to api/, which is not properly handled in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2014-9649 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in RabbitMQ's management plugin that affects versions from 2.1.0 through 3.4.x before 3.4.1. This issue resides in the API endpoint handling where path information is not properly sanitized, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes path information sent to the api/ endpoint and fails to adequately handle error messages that contain this unsanitized input. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates a classic input validation weakness that has been categorized under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the management interface and represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on RabbitMQ's administrative capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of path information sent to the api/ endpoint within RabbitMQ's management plugin. When the system encounters malformed or malicious path data, it generates error messages that include this unsanitized input without proper HTML escaping or encoding. Attackers can craft specific requests that contain script payloads in the path parameters, which then get rendered in error messages displayed to users accessing the management interface. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication to initiate the vulnerability, though successful exploitation typically requires a user to view the error message page. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves the use of external remote services to conduct attacks, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering through malicious web content. The flaw essentially creates a persistent XSS vector within the management plugin's error handling mechanism, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9649 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, and potentially gain full control over the RabbitMQ management interface. Organizations using vulnerable versions of RabbitMQ face risks including unauthorized access to message queues, modification of queue configurations, and potential data exfiltration through the management plugin. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the management plugin is exposed to untrusted networks or where users with administrative privileges access the interface from potentially compromised systems. The flaw can be exploited to create persistent backdoors within the management interface, allowing attackers to maintain access even after initial exploitation. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader application security posture, as it represents a failure in proper input sanitization and error handling practices that are fundamental to secure application development.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to RabbitMQ version 3.4.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the underlying input handling issue. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper sanitization of path information in error messages and ensuring that all user-provided input is properly escaped before rendering in the management interface. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the management plugin, restrict API access to trusted IP addresses, and monitor for suspicious requests to the api/ endpoint. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path parameters, conducting regular security assessments of the management interface, and ensuring that access controls are properly configured to limit administrative privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and error handling in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2017 category A03: Injection, which specifically addresses improper input validation and sanitization issues that lead to XSS vulnerabilities.