CVE-2002-0292 in Slashcode
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Slash before 2.2.5, as used in Slashcode and elsewhere, allows remote attackers to steal cookies and authentication information from other users via Javascript in a URL, possibly in the formkey field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0292 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affected the Slash web application framework prior to version 2.2.5. This vulnerability specifically targeted the Slashcode platform and similar implementations that utilized the Slash framework for content management and community building. The flaw emerged from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's processing of user-supplied data, particularly in how the system handled form fields containing JavaScript code. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that included JavaScript payloads, which would then be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they accessed the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate input parameters before rendering them in web responses. When the system processed form data, particularly in fields like formkey, it did not adequately filter or encode user-provided content that could contain malicious script code. This lack of proper input sanitization created an environment where attackers could inject JavaScript code that would execute in the browser context of unsuspecting victims. The vulnerability specifically leveraged the fact that the application stored and displayed user input without sufficient escaping or encoding, allowing the malicious JavaScript to be interpreted and executed as legitimate content by web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant, as it enabled attackers to perform session hijacking and authentication theft attacks against users of vulnerable Slash applications. When victims visited maliciously crafted URLs containing the JavaScript payload, the injected code could access and steal session cookies, authentication tokens, and other sensitive information stored in the browser's memory. This capability allowed attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to protected areas of the application, modifying content, or performing actions on behalf of the compromised users. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it required no special privileges from the attacker and could be exploited through simple URL manipulation.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and execution through web-based attacks. From a CWE perspective, this represents a classic CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability, which is categorized under the broader set of web application security flaws that compromise user session integrity. Organizations using affected versions of Slashcode were exposed to potential data breaches, unauthorized access, and compromise of user authentication systems. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple implementations of the Slash framework meant that numerous websites and community platforms were potentially at risk, making it a widespread concern for system administrators and security practitioners.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to Slash version 2.2.5 or later, which contained proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive input filtering and output encoding practices, ensuring that all user-provided data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTTP-only flags on session cookies could further reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews became essential practices for preventing similar vulnerabilities in web applications, emphasizing the importance of defense-in-depth strategies that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture of web-based systems.