CVE-2016-7103 in OSS Support Tools
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in jQuery UI before 1.12.0 might allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the closeText parameter of the dialog function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2025
The CVE-2016-7103 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within jQuery UI library versions prior to 1.12.0, specifically affecting the dialog function's closeText parameter handling. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web applications that utilize the affected jQuery UI components. The flaw exists in the way the library processes user-supplied input when rendering dialog interfaces, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the closeText parameter within the dialog function's processing pipeline. When developers pass user-controllable data directly into this parameter without proper validation or encoding, the jQuery UI library fails to adequately escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript markup. This oversight creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised application environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages widely used jQuery UI components that are integrated into numerous web applications across different industries.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7103 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks within the victim's browser environment. Security researchers have documented how this vulnerability can be chained with other exploits to create more severe attack vectors, including session fixation, cookie manipulation, and redirection attacks that can compromise user data and application integrity. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely on jQuery UI dialog components for user interaction, making it particularly prevalent in content management systems, web portals, and enterprise applications that utilize these UI libraries for their user interfaces. The attack surface is broad due to jQuery UI's widespread adoption, meaning that a single unpatched instance can potentially affect multiple organizations simultaneously.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to jQuery UI version 1.12.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding for the closeText parameter. Security teams must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected jQuery UI implementations within their application portfolios, particularly focusing on web applications that process user input through dialog components. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content security policies, employing input validation frameworks, and conducting regular security testing of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other UI libraries or custom implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for both defensive measures and user awareness training to prevent successful exploitation attempts.