CVE-2002-1464 in CafeLog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CafeLog b2 Weblog Tool allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary HTML or script via the GPC variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The CVE-2002-1464 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the CafeLog b2 Weblog Tool, a content management system that was widely used for web publishing during the early 2000s. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of global PHP variables, specifically the GPC (Get, Post, Cookie) variables that are fundamental to PHP application security. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that were prevalent in web applications of that era, when security practices were less mature and standardized. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious HTML or script code into the web application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the CafeLog b2 Weblog Tool fails to properly sanitize user input received through the GPC variables, particularly those originating from HTTP GET parameters. When a user visits a maliciously crafted URL containing script code within the GPC variables, the web application processes this input without adequate filtering or encoding, allowing the malicious payload to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that no local access or authentication is required to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve a broad user base.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1464 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive cookies, and potentially redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent malicious scripts that execute whenever users view affected pages, effectively turning the vulnerable web application into a vector for distributing malware or conducting phishing attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a weblog tool is particularly concerning since such applications often contain sensitive user information, administrative interfaces, and serve as platforms for user-generated content that can be exploited to compromise the entire web application ecosystem. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for spearphishing with malicious attachments, as attackers can use the XSS capability to deliver additional malicious payloads. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user sessions, data theft, and unauthorized modifications to web content, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on the affected software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1464 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices that were not adequately implemented in the vulnerable CafeLog b2 Weblog Tool. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed, using techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output rendering and implementing strict input validation rules. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the principle of defense in depth, where multiple layers of security controls are implemented to prevent exploitation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications, and the affected software should be updated or replaced with secure alternatives. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts, while user education regarding suspicious website content and the importance of keeping software updated can provide additional protective layers against such attacks.