CVE-2002-1493 in Htmlgear Guestgear
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Lycos HTMLGear guestbook allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary script via (1) STYLE attributes or (2) SRC attributes in an IMG tag.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
The CVE-2002-1493 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Lycos HTMLGear guestbook application that emerged during the early 2000s web security landscape. This vulnerability resides in the guestbook's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. The flaw manifests when the application processes guestbook entries containing malicious script code, particularly through HTML attribute manipulation that bypasses standard security filters. The vulnerability affects the application's handling of user-generated content, creating a persistent security risk that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary vectors that leverage HTML attribute injection techniques. The first vector involves injecting malicious code through STYLE attributes where attackers can embed javascript payloads that execute when the browser renders the styled content. The second vector targets IMG tag SRC attributes, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through image source references that may be processed in unexpected ways by the vulnerable application. Both attack vectors exploit the fundamental weakness in input sanitization where the application fails to properly validate or escape HTML attributes before displaying them to end users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as the improper validation or sanitization of input data that leads to execution of malicious scripts in user browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1493 extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential for more sophisticated attacks within the web application ecosystem. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface the guestbook interface, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The persistent nature of guestbook entries means that successful attacks can affect multiple users over time, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for applications that store and display user-generated content. The attack surface is broad since any user who submits content to the guestbook becomes a potential vector for exploitation, and the vulnerability remains active as long as the application continues to process unvalidated input without proper sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective approach involves implementing strict HTML attribute filtering that removes or escapes potentially dangerous attributes like STYLE and SRC before rendering user content. Additionally, the application should employ comprehensive output encoding techniques that transform malicious script code into harmless text representations when displaying user-generated content. Security practitioners should implement content security policies that restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized resource loading. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web application interfaces. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of web applications and implement proper input sanitization libraries to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future iterations of the software.