CVE-2018-14835 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS v4.2.1 is vulnerable to Stored XSS because of no escaping added to the tooltip information being displayed in multiple areas.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14835 affects Subrion CMS version 4.2.1 and represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that stems from inadequate input sanitization within the tooltip functionality. This issue manifests when tooltip information is displayed across multiple areas of the content management system without proper HTML escaping or output encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly escape user-supplied data before rendering tooltip content within the web interface. When administrators or users create content that includes tooltip information, the system stores this data without adequate sanitization processes that would normally convert special characters into their HTML-safe equivalents. This stored data is then subsequently displayed to other users without proper encoding, allowing attackers to embed malicious javascript code within tooltip text that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically impacts multiple areas of the CMS where tooltip functionality is implemented, suggesting a systemic issue rather than a localized flaw.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites, particularly when the affected tooltip areas are accessed by administrators or privileged users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious content is injected, it persists until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, as the vulnerability can be exploited through normal content creation processes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have content management capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of proper output encoding and input sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's tooltip handling components. The recommended approach involves implementing strict HTML escaping for all user-supplied content before rendering in tooltip contexts, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks that provide automatic encoding capabilities. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive input validation to reject potentially malicious content patterns and consider implementing content security policies to further restrict script execution. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and the attack surface maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, particularly focusing on the persistence aspect of stored XSS attacks. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future releases, with emphasis on ensuring all user-facing content rendering processes include appropriate sanitization measures.