CVE-2024-51509 in Tiki
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Tiki through 27.0 allows users who have certain permissions to insert a "Modules" (aka tiki-admin_modules.php) stored XSS payload in the Name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Tiki content management system version 27.0 and earlier, where authenticated users with specific permissions can inject stored cross-site scripting payloads through the module name field in the administrative module management interface. The flaw resides in the insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before storing it in the database and subsequently rendering it within the web interface. The affected parameter is the Name field within the tiki-admin_modules.php administrative page, which allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that persist in the system and execute in the context of other users who view the affected module listings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper content security controls in the module administration functionality. When users with appropriate permissions create or modify modules, the system stores the provided name value without adequate sanitization, creating a persistent XSS vector. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for malicious HTML content injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates as a stored XSS attack, meaning the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed each time affected pages are accessed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This could potentially allow for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or the establishment of backdoors within the Tiki environment. An attacker could craft a malicious module name that, when viewed by an administrator or other privileged user, would execute malicious scripts to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform other harmful actions. The persistence of the attack vector makes this particularly dangerous as it remains active until the module is manually removed or the vulnerability is patched, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods.
Organizations using Tiki versions prior to 27.1 should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patch, implementing additional input validation measures at the application level, and monitoring for suspicious module creation activities. Administrative users should be restricted from creating modules with arbitrary names where possible, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit who can create or modify modules. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential XSS payload delivery attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify any unauthorized module modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing persistent XSS attacks, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can amplify the impact of such flaws.