CVE-2002-0732 in MyGuestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in MyGuestbook 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script or inject HTML via fields such as (1) user name or (2) comments.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in MyGuestbook version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability specifically affects input fields including user names and comments, which are processed without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. This weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security issue that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the MyGuestbook application. When users submit guestbook entries containing user names or comments, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before storing or displaying them on web pages. This creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious javascript code, html tags, or other script payloads directly into the vulnerable fields. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core user interaction points that are frequently accessed and displayed, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes the web application to significant risks including unauthorized data access, session manipulation, and potential account takeovers. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that, when viewed by other users, execute scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify the web page content. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potentially provide attackers with persistent access to the vulnerable application. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Access Token Manipulation and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious code and maintain persistent access.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered back to users in web pages. This includes employing proper HTML escaping techniques, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and using secure coding practices that prevent script injection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 A03:2021 - Injection, where inadequate input sanitization leads to various injection attacks including XSS. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, while also implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit these weaknesses.