CVE-2014-4172: URL Parameter Injection Vulnerability in Jasig Java CAS Client, .NET CAS Client, and phpCAS

DotNetCasClient Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

17/05/2022
Yes i
Critical
9.8

CVE-2014-4172: Jasig Java CAS Client, .NET CAS Client, and phpCAS contain URL parameter injection vulnerability. Affects DotNetCasClient versions < 1.0.2. Fixed in 1.0.2. How to fix ↓

Also tracked for

The same CVE-2014-4172 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

Jasig Java CAS Client, .NET CAS Client, and phpCAS are popular libraries used for implementing the CAS (Central Authentication Service) protocol. These libraries provide functionality for validating tickets and handling authentication in web applications. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in these libraries that allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML through URL parameters during the back-channel ticket validation step of the CAS protocol.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability exists in the back-channel ticket validation step of the CAS protocol in Jasig Java CAS Client before version 3.3.2, .NET CAS Client before version 1.0.2, and phpCAS before version 1.3.3. It is caused by insufficient input validation of the 'service' parameter in validation/AbstractUrlBasedTicketValidator.java and the 'pgtUrl' parameter in validation/Cas20ServiceTicketValidator.java. This allows an attacker to inject malicious web script or HTML code, which can lead to various security issues such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

1.0.2

This is the first release that contains the fix.

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Workaround

If upgrading to the latest versions is not immediately feasible, a temporary workaround is to manually sanitize and validate the 'service' and 'pgtUrl' parameters before using them in the back-channel ticket validation process. This can be done by implementing custom input validation and sanitization functions in the application code. Here is an example of how to sanitize the 'service' parameter in Java:

String sanitizedService = service.replaceAll("[<>]", "");

Conclusion

The URL parameter injection vulnerability in Jasig Java CAS Client, .NET CAS Client, and phpCAS can allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, potentially leading to security issues such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. It is crucial to promptly upgrade to the latest patched versions of the affected libraries or implement the recommended workarounds to mitigate the risk of exploitation. For further support or assistance, you can contact DevNack.com.

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FAQ

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, which can lead to various security issues such as cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. This can potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web application.

There are no known public exploits specifically targeting this vulnerability at the time of writing. However, it is important to promptly apply the recommended patches or workarounds to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

You can use the Vulert Playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your packages.config file, and Vulert will analyze it for any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.

Yes, you can find more detailed information about this vulnerability, including the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier, in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4172

For further support or assistance with vulnerability remediation, you can contact info@devnack.com. They specialize in helping organizations address security vulnerabilities and provide guidance on best practices for secure software development.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

1.0.2

This is the first release that contains the fix.

Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →

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