CVE-2014-5191: CKEditor Preview Plugin XSS Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2014-5191: The Preview plugin in CKEditor allows Cross-site scripting (XSS). Affects ckeditor/ckeditor versions < 4.4.3. Fixed in 4.4.3. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- ckeditor · Debian:11
The same CVE-2014-5191 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
CKEditor is a widely used open-source WYSIWYG text editor that enables users to create rich text content for web applications. It is highly customizable and supports various plugins to enhance functionality. The Preview plugin allows users to preview their content before publishing. However, a vulnerability in this plugin prior to version 4.4.3 exposes users to potential cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, where malicious scripts can be injected into the editor.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-5191, is a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the Preview plugin of CKEditor versions before 4.4.3. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML into the editor through unspecified vectors. If exploited, this could lead to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of users, data theft, or the spread of malware, compromising the integrity and security of web applications that utilize CKEditor.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4.4.3
This is the first release that contains the fix.
composer require ckeditor/ckeditor:4.4.3Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can disable the Preview plugin until they can update to the patched version. This can be done by removing or commenting out the plugin in the CKEditor configuration file.
Conclusion
The CVE-2014-5191 vulnerability in the CKEditor Preview plugin poses a significant risk due to its potential for XSS attacks. Users are strongly advised to update to version 4.4.3 or later to mitigate this risk. Additionally, utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for ckeditor/ckeditor →
FAQ
The impact includes the potential for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session, leading to data theft or unauthorized actions.
You can check your CKEditor version in the package.json or composer.lock file. If it is below 4.4.3, it is affected by this vulnerability.
Yes, you can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just the composer.lock file. You can also check your application against known vulnerabilities using the Vulert playground.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider disabling the Preview plugin as a temporary measure to mitigate the risk.
More information can be found in the official advisory on GitHub or the CVE database, which provides detailed descriptions and remediation steps.
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