CVE-2016-7146 in MoinMoin
Summary
by MITRE
MoinMoin 1.9.8 allows remote attackers to conduct "JavaScript injection" attacks by using the "page creation or crafted URL" approach, related to a "Cross Site Scripting (XSS)" issue affecting the action=fckdialog&dialog=attachment (via page name) component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7146 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw in MoinMoin version 1.9.8 that enables remote attackers to execute malicious javascript code within the context of victim browsers. This vulnerability specifically targets the action=fckdialog&dialog=attachment functionality which is part of the wiki's rich text editing capabilities. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms when processing page names that are used in conjunction with the fckdialog attachment dialog component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain javascript payloads, which then get executed when users navigate to affected pages or interact with the vulnerable editing interface. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector that leverages the wiki's attachment dialog functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when MoinMoin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that is subsequently rendered in the web interface without adequate escaping or encoding. When a user creates a page with a maliciously crafted name or when navigating to a URL containing crafted parameters, the javascript code embedded within the page name or URL parameters gets executed in the browser context of other users who view or interact with the affected content. This creates a persistent threat where any user who accesses the vulnerable page or dialog interface becomes a potential victim of the injected javascript code. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple URL manipulation without requiring authentication or advanced exploitation techniques, making it highly accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a payload that steals session cookies from authenticated users, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to wiki resources. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used to inject malicious code that modifies wiki content, creates backdoors, or establishes command and control channels. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once a malicious page is created, it can continue to affect users indefinitely until the vulnerability is patched or the malicious content is removed from the system.
Organizations using MoinMoin version 1.9.8 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to resolve the XSS vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious javascript payloads in URL parameters and page names. Input validation controls should be strengthened to sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters used in the fckdialog attachment functionality. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for JavaScript and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, highlighting the need for both network-level protection and user awareness training. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other components of the wiki system, and all users should be educated about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted wiki pages. System administrators should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict the execution of inline javascript and limit the scope of potential XSS attacks.