CVE-2018-14864 in Community
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect access control in asset bundles in Odoo Community 9.0 through 11.0 and earlier and Odoo Enterprise 9.0 through 11.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script via a crafted attachment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14864 represents a critical access control flaw within the Odoo Community and Enterprise platforms affecting versions 9.0 through 11.0. This issue stems from inadequate validation of asset bundle attachments, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of file attachments within Odoo's asset management system, where proper authorization checks fail to prevent unauthorized script injection. Security researchers have classified this as an access control weakness that enables authenticated users to bypass intended security boundaries. The flaw manifests when users upload attachments that contain malicious JavaScript code, which then gets executed within the context of other users' sessions. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data processed through Odoo's web interface, as it allows for cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper sanitization of attachment metadata within Odoo's asset bundle processing pipeline. When users upload files, the system fails to adequately validate the content type and file attributes of attachments before storing them in the asset management system. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious files that appear legitimate but contain embedded scripts designed to execute in the browser context of other users. The vulnerability specifically affects how Odoo handles file extensions and content verification during the asset bundle creation process, where the system does not properly distinguish between safe and malicious content. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, exploiting the assumption that authenticated users can be trusted to upload valid content. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector where malicious scripts can be injected into the system and executed whenever legitimate users access the affected asset bundles.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14864 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the Odoo environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems, steal user credentials, and manipulate business processes through malicious script execution. The vulnerability affects organizations using Odoo for critical business functions including customer relationship management, inventory management, and financial operations, where unauthorized access could result in significant financial and reputational damage. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, modification of business records, and potential system compromise through the execution of malicious code. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Odoo systems handle sensitive business data and where the vulnerability could be exploited to gain access to confidential information. The flaw's presence in both Community and Enterprise editions means that organizations across different licensing tiers are equally vulnerable, creating widespread exposure across the Odoo user base.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14864 require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Odoo, alongside enhanced input validation and content sanitization measures. Organizations should implement strict file type validation and content scanning for all uploaded attachments, particularly those used in asset bundles. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious content, implementing proper access controls for file upload operations, and establishing regular security audits of asset management systems. Security teams should also consider implementing least privilege access controls for attachment handling functions and monitor user activities for anomalous file upload patterns. Organizations should review their current security configurations and ensure that proper file validation mechanisms are in place before the vulnerability can be exploited. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security updates and patch management programs should be maintained to address similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) classifications, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and command execution techniques.