ZF2011-01: Potential XSS in Development Environment Error View Script

http://mwop.net/blog/206-Zend-Framework-1.7.5-Released-Important-Note-Regarding-Zend_View.html

Executive Summary

    The default error handling view script generated using     Zend_Tool failed to escape request parameters when run in the     "development" configuration environment, providing a potential XSS attack     vector.

Action Taken

Zend_Tool_Project_Context_Zf_ViewScriptFile was patched such     that the view script template now calls theescape() method    on dumped request variables.

Recommendations

    This particular vulnerability affects only those users who (a) are using    Zend_Tool (aka the zf CLI) to generate their     ErrorController and view script, and (b) are running that     code under the "development" configuration environment on a public-facing     web server.

    If you are running in any environment other than "development", the issue    will not present.

    There are three approaches you can take:

Make sure you set the correct application environment.

            You should only ever run in the "development" environment when             developing the application, and typically only behind a firewall.             Additionally, you should set yourAPPLICATION_ENV             environment variable via your web server's virtual host             configuration whenever possible. For public-facing hosts, set the            value to anything other than "development".       

            If you must run under the "development" application            environment on a publically accessible server, follow one of the            next two recommendations.       

Upgrade to Zend Framework 1.11.4

            Zend Framework 1.11.4 includes a patch that adds escaping to the             generatederror/error.phtml view script, ensuring that            request variables are escaped appropriately for the browser.       

            Do note, however, that this will not update any previously generated            code. You will still need to follow the next advice for previously            generated error view scripts.       

Modify your error/error.phtml view script

            If you cannot upgrade, or if you want to patch previously generated            error view scripts, do the following:       

• Open the application/views/scripts/error/error.phtml                file from your ZF-generated project in a text editor or your                 IDE.           
• Find the heading "Request Parameters".
• In the line following, you'll see the following statement:

  <pre><?php echo var_export($this->request->getParams(), true) ?>

• Edit the above statement to wrap the var_export                 call within a$this->escape() method call:

  <pre><?php echo $this->escape(var_export($this->request->getParams(), true)) ?>

            Once complete, save the file.

Other Information

Acknowledgments

    The Zend Framework team thanks the following for working with us to help     protect its users:

• Robert Lehmann
• Frederik Braun
• Hubert Hesse

Reporting Potential Security Issues

    If you have encountered a potential security vulnerability in Zend     Framework, please report it to us [e-mail]. We will     work with you to verify the vulnerability and patch it.

    When reporting issues, please provide the following information:

• Component(s) affected
• A description indicating how to reproduce the issue
• A summary of the security vulnerability and impact

    We request that you contact us via the email address above and give the     project contributors a chance to resolve the vulnerability and issue a new     release prior to any public exposure; this helps protect Zend Framework     users and provides them with a chance to upgrade and/or update in order to     protect their applications.

    For sensitive email communications, please use our     PGP key.

Policy

    Zend Framework takes security seriously. If we verify a reported security     vulnerability, our policy is:

• We will patch the current release branch, as well as the immediate prior     minor release branch.
• After patching the release branches, we will immediately issue new     security fix releases for each patched release branch.
• A security advisory will be released on the Zend Framework site     detailing the vulnerability, as well as recommendations for end-users to     protect themselves. Security advisories will be listed athttp://framework.zend.com/security/advisories, as well as     via afeed (which is also present in the     website head for easy feed discovery)