CVE-2014-9918 in Bilboplanet
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bilboplanet 2.0. Stored XSS exists in the user_id parameter to signup.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9918 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Bilboplanet 2.0 web application. This security weakness resides in the signup.php script where the user_id parameter fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before processing and storing it within the application's database. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts malicious script code within the user_id field during the registration process, which then gets persisted in the system and executed whenever the affected page is accessed by other users or administrators.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly handled and executed within a web application's context. The stored variant of XSS means that the malicious payload is not only reflected back to users but is permanently stored within the application's database, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. The vulnerability occurs because the application does not implement proper input validation or output encoding mechanisms to prevent script execution within the user_id parameter, creating an attack surface that allows for arbitrary code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker could leverage this stored XSS to hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, steal sensitive information, or even escalate privileges within the application. The persistence of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code continues to execute for all users who interact with the affected data, potentially compromising numerous accounts and system integrity. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking long-term access or data exfiltration capabilities, as the attack vector remains active without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9918 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user input, particularly the user_id parameter, through proper escaping mechanisms before storage and rendering. Application developers should employ parameterized queries and input validation libraries to prevent malicious code from being stored in the database. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using secure coding practices that follow OWASP Top 10 guidelines can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input handling issues that may exist elsewhere in the system architecture.