CVE-2014-9916 in Bilboplanet
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Bilboplanet 2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) tribe_name or (2) tags parameter in a tribes page request to user/ or the (3) user_id or (4) fullname parameter to signup.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9916 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Bilboplanet 2.0 software, specifically targeting the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters. This vulnerability resides within the web application's user interface and authentication mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for users interacting with the platform. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input data received through specific HTTP parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects two distinct endpoints within the application's architecture, demonstrating the widespread nature of the input validation failure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter validation in the application's backend processing logic. When users submit requests to the user/ endpoint with the tribe_name or tags parameters, or when accessing the signup.php page with user_id or fullname parameters, the application processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization measures. This lack of input filtering creates an environment where malicious payloads can be stored and subsequently executed when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where a web application fails to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamic content. The flaw operates at the application layer, specifically within the data processing and output generation components of the web framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9916 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. This capability allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential for privilege escalation within the application's user management system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability affects both the tribe management functionality and user registration processes, creating multiple attack vectors for threat actors. Given that the application handles user-generated content through tribe_name and tags parameters, successful exploitation could compromise the integrity of community data and user privacy. The attack surface is further expanded through the signup.php endpoint, where user_id and fullname parameters could be manipulated to inject scripts during user registration or profile management activities.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters through strict validation rules and implementing proper HTML escaping for dynamic content generation. Organizations should deploy Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The application should utilize parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions to prevent injection attacks, while also implementing proper session management controls. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of user input activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation within targeted environments. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for web application security.