CVE-2016-6133 in Ektron CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ektron Content Management System before 9.1.0.184SP3(9.1.0.184.3.127) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the rptStatus parameter in a Report action to WorkArea/SelectUserGroup.aspx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The CVE-2016-6133 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Ektron Content Management System, specifically affecting versions prior to 9.1.0.184SP3. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user input parameters, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this content management platform. The flaw manifests in the Report action of the WorkArea/SelectUserGroup.aspx page, where the rptStatus parameter fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before rendering it within the web response. This oversight creates an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's output, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the rptStatus parameter in the Report action URL to include malicious script content. When the Ektron CMS processes this parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding, the injected scripts execute within the context of legitimate user sessions. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing content management interfaces, or executing unauthorized administrative functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the CMS environment. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental web security principles and represents a failure to implement proper sanitization mechanisms for user-supplied data.
Organizations running affected versions of Ektron CMS face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, as it can lead to complete compromise of the content management infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists in a core administrative interface component, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive content and user management functions. Successful exploitation could result in data breaches, unauthorized content modification, and complete loss of administrative control over the CMS. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local access or credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with public-facing CMS interfaces. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the content management system, potentially affecting thousands of users and thousands of content items within the compromised environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6133 focus primarily on immediate patching of the Ektron CMS to versions 9.1.0.184SP3 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, particularly for parameters that are directly rendered in HTML responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous parameter values in URL requests, particularly in administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious requests containing known malicious patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of regular security updates and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies, including regular security assessments and proper input sanitization practices. This incident aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting languages for execution, and demonstrates the necessity of proper parameter validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 categories related to injection flaws.