Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in MODX Revolution

[High-Tech Bridge Security Research <advisory () htbridge com>]

Advisory ID: HTB23229
Product: MODX Revolution
Vendor: MODX
Vulnerable Version(s): 2.3.1-pl and probably prior
Tested Version: 2.3.1-pl
Advisory Publication:  August 20, 2014  [without technical details]
Vendor Notification: August 20, 2014 
Vendor Patch: September 11, 2014 
Public Disclosure: September 17, 2014 
Vulnerability Type: Cross-Site Scripting [CWE-79]
CVE Reference: CVE-2014-5451
Risk Level: Low 
CVSSv2 Base Score: 2.6 (AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N)
Solution Status: Fixed by Vendor
Discovered and Provided: High-Tech Bridge Security Research Lab ( https://www.htbridge.com/advisory/ ) 

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Advisory Details:

High-Tech Bridge Security Research Lab discovered vulnerability in MODX Revolution, which can be exploited to perform 
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.


1) Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in MODX Revolution: CVE-2014-5451

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of input data passed via the "a" HTTP GET parameter to 
"/manager/" URL. A remote attacker can trick a logged-in administrator to open a specially crafted link and execute 
arbitrary HTML and script code in browser in context of the vulnerable website.
This vulnerability can be used against website administrator to perform phishing attacks, steal potentially sensitive 
data and gain complete control over web application.

The exploitation example below uses the "alert()" JavaScript function to display "immuniweb" word:

http://[host]/manager/?a=%22%20onload=%22javascript:alert%28/immuniweb/%29;%22%3E

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Solution:

Update "manager/templates/default/header.tpl" file from GitHub.

More Information:
https://github.com/modxcms/revolution/issues/11966
https://github.com/modxcms/revolution/commit/e36f80f18e9514204bf2ce82747c8adf7e47a9c9

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References:

[1] High-Tech Bridge Advisory HTB23229 - https://www.htbridge.com/advisory/HTB23229 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting 
(XSS) in MODX Revolution.
[2] MODX Revolution - http://modx.com - MODX Revolution is the web content management platform for those that truly 
care about no-compromise design and exceptional user experience. It gives you complete control over your site and 
content, with the flexibility and scalability to adapt to your changing needs.
[3] Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) - http://cve.mitre.org/ - international in scope and free for public 
use, CVE® is a dictionary of publicly known information security vulnerabilities and exposures.
[4] Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) - http://cwe.mitre.org - targeted to developers and security practitioners, CWE 
is a formal list of software weakness types.
[5] ImmuniWeb® SaaS - https://www.htbridge.com/immuniweb/ - hybrid of manual web application penetration test and 
cutting-edge vulnerability scanner available online via a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this Advisory is provided "as is" and without any warranty of any kind. Details 
of this Advisory may be updated in order to provide as accurate information as possible. The latest version of the 
Advisory is available on web page [1] in the References.