CVE-2014-9677 in Flexpaper
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in FlexPaperViewer.swf in Flexpaper before 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Swfile parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The CVE-2014-9677 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the FlexPaperViewer.swf component of the FlexPaper document viewer library prior to version 2.3.1. This vulnerability exists within the web application's handling of user-supplied input through the Swfile parameter, which is used to specify the PDF or document file to be displayed within the viewer interface. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete session hijacking.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the FlexPaper viewer component. When the Swfile parameter is processed, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-provided content before incorporating it into the web page's dynamic content generation. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute within the victim's browser when the affected page loads. The vulnerability specifically affects the Flash-based viewer component, which processes the Swfile parameter without adequate security measures to prevent malicious input from being interpreted as executable code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a vector to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the affected web application. An attacker could craft malicious URLs with crafted Swfile parameters containing malicious scripts that would execute when users navigate to the vulnerable page. This could result in session cookies being stolen, sensitive data being exfiltrated, or the execution of arbitrary commands within the user's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core functionality of document viewing, making it a common target for phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of all affected FlexPaper installations to version 2.3.1 or later. Input validation should be strengthened at the application level to sanitize all parameters before they are processed, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests containing known XSS payload patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to severe security consequences. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability exploitation technique that enables initial access and privilege escalation within user sessions.
Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable FlexPaper component across their web applications and ensure that all users are protected through proper patch management procedures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input validation mechanisms to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in other web applications. Regular security testing and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated Flash-based components that may present similar risks.