CVE-2014-9917 in Bilboplanet
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bilboplanet 2.0. There is a stored XSS vulnerability when adding a tag via the user/?page=tribes tags parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9917 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Bilboplanet 2.0 web application platform. This security weakness specifically manifests when users attempt to add tags through the user/?page=tribes endpoint, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue demonstrates a classic stored XSS vulnerability where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored and subsequently rendered back to other users, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple victims over time.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the tags parameter within the user/?page=tribes endpoint, which serves as an entry point for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's database. When legitimate users subsequently view pages containing these malicious tags, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their current session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the application's database and affects all users who encounter the compromised content, making it particularly dangerous compared to reflected XSS variants that require specific user interaction to trigger. This flaw represents a significant gap in input validation and output encoding mechanisms, where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it for later retrieval.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9917 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that align with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1531 - Account Access Through Persistence and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter categories. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can establish persistent access to user accounts, steal session cookies, or redirect victims to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the Bilboplanet platform, potentially compromising sensitive information and user privacy. Organizations relying on this application face risks of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage due to the persistent nature of stored XSS attacks that can remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in web application development, particularly in the areas of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental requirements for secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling processes. The primary remediation involves implementing strict validation of all user input, particularly when processing tag parameters, and ensuring that all stored data is properly escaped before rendering in web pages. Organizations should deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and implement proper input filtering to prevent the injection of malicious payloads. The fix should include comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied data, including the implementation of a whitelist-based validation approach for tag inputs, and the use of context-appropriate encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding for display purposes. Additionally, regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security training for developers to ensure adherence to secure coding practices and proper understanding of input validation techniques that prevent XSS vulnerabilities. Regular updates and patch management processes should be established to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are identified and addressed promptly in future releases of the application.