# CVE-2014-4172: Jasig Java CAS Client, .NET CAS Client, and phpCAS contain URL parameter injection vulnerability

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML via URL parameters in CAS client libraries, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-4172, DSA-3017-1, GHSA-9fc5-q25c-r2wr, MGASA-2014-0387

## What is CVE-2014-4172?

CVE-2014-4172 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 24 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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 remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) service parameter to validation/AbstractUrlBasedTicketValidator.java or (2) pgtUrl parameter to validation/Cas20ServiceTicketValidator.java.

Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-4172?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.jasig.cas:cas-client, DotNetCasClient and jasig/phpcas. It affects 5 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.jasig.cas:cas-client` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.2 |
| `org.jasig.cas:cas-client` | Maven | All versions | 3.3.2 |
| `DotNetCasClient` | NuGet | All versions | 1.0.2 |
| `DotNetCasClient` | NuGet | All versions | 1.0.2 |
| `jasig/phpcas` | Packagist | All versions | 1.3.3 |
| `jasig/phpcas` | Packagist | All versions | 1.3.3 |

Products: Apereo .Net Cas Client, Apereo Java Cas Client, Apereo Phpcas, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-4172?

Upgrade org.jasig.cas:cas-client to 3.3.2 or later.

## Is CVE-2014-4172 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-4172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-4172 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-4172 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 24 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-4172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.jasig.cas:cas-client (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.2
- org.jasig.cas:cas-client (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.2
- DotNetCasClient (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.2
- DotNetCasClient (NuGet): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.2
- jasig/phpcas (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3.3
- jasig/phpcas (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.3.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4172/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4172/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-4172
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4172
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-4172

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4172/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.