CVE-2018-14664 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in foreman from versions 1.18. A stored cross-site scripting vulnerability exists due to an improperly escaped HTML code in the breadcrumbs bar. This allows a user with permissions to edit which attribute is used in the breadcrumbs bar to store code that will be executed on the client side.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14664 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the foreman application ecosystem. This security weakness specifically affects versions 1.18 and later, where improper HTML escaping mechanisms fail to adequately sanitize user-controlled input within the breadcrumbs navigation component. The flaw resides in the application's handling of attribute values used for breadcrumb display, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the foreman framework's user interface rendering components. When administrators or authorized users modify breadcrumb attributes through the application's administrative interface, the system fails to properly escape HTML characters in the stored data. This allows attackers with appropriate permissions to inject malicious script payloads that persistently execute whenever the affected breadcrumb elements are rendered. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as improper neutralization of input during web output rendering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. An attacker with permissions to edit breadcrumb attributes can craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, accessing restricted data, or performing unauthorized actions. This stored XSS vulnerability creates a persistent threat that remains active until the malicious content is removed from the system, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrative privileges are shared.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14664 require immediate implementation of proper HTML escaping mechanisms throughout the foreman application's breadcrumb rendering pipeline. Organizations should enforce strict input validation for all user-modifiable attributes used in navigation components and implement comprehensive output encoding for any dynamic content displayed in UI elements. Security patches should address the root cause by ensuring that all attribute values stored for breadcrumb display undergo proper sanitization before being rendered. Additionally, implementing content security policies and role-based access controls can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security audits should verify that similar escaping mechanisms are properly implemented across all application components. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, as the malicious code execution occurs through client-side scripting mechanisms.