CVE-2002-0281 in DCP-Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in DCP-Portal 4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to gain privileges of other portal users by providing Javascript in the job information field to user_update.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0281 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that emerged in the DCP-Portal content management system version 4.2 and earlier. This security weakness specifically affects the user_update.php script which processes job information fields submitted by users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the portal's user management functionality, creating an exploitable condition where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed within the context of other users' browsers.
This cross-site scripting vulnerability operates through the manipulation of user input fields, particularly targeting the job information field in the user_update.php endpoint. When an attacker submits malicious javascript code within this field, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the user interface. The flaw allows for persistent storage of the malicious script within the application's database, which then gets executed whenever other users view the affected user profile information. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where attackers can potentially impersonate legitimate users or access sensitive information that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the portal environment. Through the execution of malicious javascript code, attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or even perform actions on behalf of the targeted users. The vulnerability's persistence through database storage means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed by administrators, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potential access to administrative functions within the portal.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving malicious content delivery. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms, proper sanitization of user-submitted content, and regular security audits of web applications. The recommended approach involves implementing strict content security policies, employing proper HTML escaping techniques, and ensuring all user input is validated against whitelisted character sets before processing or storage. Additionally, regular updates and patches to the DCP-Portal software should be implemented to address this and similar vulnerabilities that have been identified in older versions of the system.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of input validation in web application security, particularly within content management systems that handle user-generated content. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous input fields can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as older versions of software often contain known vulnerabilities that can be exploited by threat actors. Organizations should establish robust security practices including regular vulnerability assessments, automated security scanning, and comprehensive user input validation controls to prevent similar issues from occurring in their web applications and protect against unauthorized access to sensitive user data and system resources.