CVE-2002-1802 in Xoops
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Xoops 1.0 RC3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Javascript in an IMG tag when submitting news.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The CVE-2002-1802 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Xoops content management system version 1.0 RC3, specifically affecting the news submission functionality. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's processing of user-submitted content, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests when users submit news articles containing malicious javascript code embedded within IMG tags, which are then rendered without proper sanitization, allowing the injected code to execute in the victim's browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The vulnerability operates by bypassing the application's security controls that should normally filter or escape special characters and script tags in user inputs. When an IMG tag containing malicious javascript is submitted, the CMS processes this input without adequate sanitization, storing the malicious payload within the news article. Subsequently, when other users view the news article, their browsers execute the embedded javascript code, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1802 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users. This vulnerability can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the news submission feature, which is typically a core functionality that users interact with regularly, making the attack surface wide and potentially affecting numerous users. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability represents a technique for establishing persistent access through malicious code execution in user browsers, while also aligning with T1203 which covers techniques for session hijacking through script injection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1802 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The primary remediation involves implementing strict sanitization of all user-submitted content, particularly when dealing with HTML or script tags, using established libraries or frameworks designed for HTML sanitization. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection, while also ensuring that all user inputs undergo proper escaping before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, the Xoops 1.0 RC3 platform should be immediately updated to a patched version or upgraded to a newer release that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version contains multiple security weaknesses that compound the risk. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components, while also establishing proper security training for developers to prevent insecure coding practices that lead to XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.