CVE-2002-0330 in OpenBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in codeparse.php of Open Bulletin Board (OpenBB) 1.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script and steal cookies via Javascript in the IMG tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0330 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Open Bulletin Board version 1.0.0 software, specifically within the codeparse.php component. This weakness enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session, fundamentally compromising the security posture of the affected system. The vulnerability manifests through the improper sanitization of user input when processing image tags, allowing attackers to embed malicious javascript within img attributes that get rendered in the web application's output.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OpenBB platform's codeparse.php script. When the application processes user-submitted content containing img tags, it fails to properly sanitize or escape javascript code embedded within the tag attributes, particularly the src or other javascript event handlers. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The vulnerability specifically exploits the browser's interpretation of javascript within image tags, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts when the vulnerable page is rendered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables comprehensive session hijacking and data theft capabilities for attackers. When a victim's browser renders the malicious content, the injected javascript code can access and exfiltrate sensitive cookies, which typically contain session identifiers and other authentication tokens. This allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to private forums, personal messages, and other restricted areas of the bulletin board system. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including forum posts, user profiles, or any content submission area where img tags are processed, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative platforms where users regularly submit content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the OpenBB application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input before processing, particularly when handling HTML content and image tags, ensuring that javascript code cannot be embedded within img attributes. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. Organizations should also consider implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content, particularly when rendering user-submitted data, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security recommendations. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation, as emphasized in the ATT&CK framework's methodology for identifying and mitigating web application vulnerabilities.