CVE-2016-7148 in MoinMoin
Summary
by MITRE
MoinMoin 1.9.8 allows remote attackers to conduct "JavaScript injection" attacks by using the "page creation" approach, related to a "Cross Site Scripting (XSS)" issue affecting the action=AttachFile (via page name) component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7148 represents a critical cross site scripting weakness in MoinMoin version 1.9.8 that enables remote attackers to execute malicious javascript code through carefully crafted page creation requests. This flaw specifically targets the action=AttachFile functionality within the wiki system, where user-supplied page names are not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. The attack vector exploits the lack of input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should prevent malicious script execution in the context of user-generated content. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79, which describes cross site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker creates a wiki page with a malicious payload embedded within the page name parameter that gets processed by the AttachFile action. When other users view the affected page or interact with the attachment functionality, the malicious javascript code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable javascript code. This vulnerability specifically affects the rendering of page names in contexts where they are directly embedded into html output without appropriate context-aware encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7148 extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within wiki environments that may contain sensitive organizational information. An attacker could craft malicious page names that, when viewed by authenticated users, could steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands if the wiki system has additional vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of wiki-based collaboration platforms where users frequently create and share content, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wikis serve as knowledge repositories. This weakness can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks that may target other system components or escalate privileges within the wiki infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices throughout the MoinMoin codebase, particularly within the AttachFile action handler. Organizations should implement comprehensive parameter validation that rejects or escapes potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and javascript protocols. The system should employ context-appropriate encoding mechanisms that prevent the execution of javascript code in html contexts where user input is rendered. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the wiki system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 A03:2021. The remediation process should include upgrading to patched versions of MoinMoin, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough code reviews to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities in other application components.