CVE-2002-0316 in XMB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in eXtreme message board (XMB) 1.6x and earlier allows remote attackers to execute script as other XMB users by inserting the script into an IMG tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0316 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the eXtreme message board software version 1.6x and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts can be injected into web applications. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary scripts against other users of the message board by embedding malicious code within an image tag structure, exploiting the application's insufficient input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the XMB software fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web interface. When a user submits content containing an IMG tag with malicious JavaScript code embedded in its attributes, the application processes this input without adequate filtering or encoding. This allows the malicious script to execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected content, effectively hijacking their sessions and potentially leading to unauthorized access to their accounts or data. The vulnerability specifically leverages the IMG tag's ability to execute JavaScript through event handlers such as onerror or onload attributes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the targeted forum environment. Users who view infected posts become unwitting participants in the attack, making this vector particularly dangerous for community-driven platforms where user-generated content is prevalent. The vulnerability can be exploited to redirect users to malicious websites, steal cookies, modify forum content, or even gain administrative privileges if the targeted users are forum administrators. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious scripts to compromise user sessions and access sensitive information through web-based vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0316 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should ensure that all user-submitted content undergoes rigorous sanitization before being rendered in the web interface, particularly focusing on image tags and their attributes. The application should implement strict validation of image source URLs and prevent execution of JavaScript within image attributes. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content can prevent script execution. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of the XMB software where these vulnerabilities have been addressed, as version 1.6x and earlier are no longer supported and contain multiple security flaws. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.