CVE-2001-1526 in Easynews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the comments action in index.php in easyNews 1.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the zeit parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1526 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the easyNews 1.5 content management system, specifically affecting the comments functionality in the index.php script. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the zeit parameter within the comments action of the index.php file, where user-supplied input is directly embedded into the web page output without adequate validation or encoding. This allows remote attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed whenever other users view the affected comments section. The flaw demonstrates a failure in input sanitization and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the affected web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly against unsuspecting users. When users browse the comments section of the easyNews application, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially compromising their entire browsing session and exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects all versions of easyNews 1.5 and earlier, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple installations that could be actively exploited by threat actors. This type of flaw represents a critical security gap that undermines user trust and can lead to significant reputational damage for organizations running vulnerable applications.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly parameters like zeit that are directly incorporated into dynamic content, before rendering them in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any data that will be displayed in the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, though this provides only secondary protection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive application security reviews and input validation controls. Regular security assessments and code audits are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in web applications.