Critical URL Parameter Injection Vulnerability in phpCAS Package
Summary
CVE-2014-4172: A URL parameter injection vulnerability was found in the back-channel ticket validation step of the CAS protocol in Jasig Java CAS Client before 3.3.2, .NET CAS Client before 1.0.2, and phpCAS before 1.3.3 that allow rem... Affects php-cas versions < 1.3.3-1. Fixed in 1.3.3-1. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
phpCAS is an open-source library that provides a client for the Central Authentication Service (CAS) protocol, enabling secure single sign-on (SSO) for web applications. It is widely used in various ecosystems, including Debian, to facilitate user authentication across multiple services. The library is designed to handle authentication requests and validate tickets securely. However, certain versions of phpCAS are vulnerable to a URL parameter injection issue that can be exploited by attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML, compromising the security of applications that rely on it.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2014-4172, arises from improper handling of URL parameters during the back-channel ticket validation step of the CAS protocol. Specifically, the service parameter in AbstractUrlBasedTicketValidator.java and the pgtUrl parameter in Cas20ServiceTicketValidator.java can be manipulated by remote attackers. This allows them to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, data leakage, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk level.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.3.3-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade php-casTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider implementing input validation and sanitization for the service and pgtUrl parameters to mitigate the risk of injection attacks. Ensure that any user input is properly encoded before being processed or rendered in the application.
Conclusion
The CVE-2014-4172 vulnerability in the phpCAS package poses a significant risk to applications using this library for authentication. It is crucial for users to upgrade to the patched versions to protect against potential attacks. In the meantime, implementing workarounds can help mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
See every vulnerability recorded for php-cas →
FAQ
CVE-2014-4172 is a critical vulnerability in the phpCAS library that allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML through manipulated URL parameters.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, data leakage, and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
If an upgrade is not possible, implement input validation and sanitization for the affected parameters to reduce the risk of exploitation.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 9.8, indicating a critical risk level.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for php-cas.
