CVE-2002-1929 in paFileDB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in pafiledb.php in PHP Arena paFileDB 1.1.3 through 3.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string in the (1) rate, (2) email, or (3) download actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1929 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the PHP Arena paFileDB application version 1.1.3 through 3.0. This security weakness specifically targets the application's handling of user input in three distinct action parameters: rate, email, and download. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental web application security flaw. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the query string parameters within the pafiledb.php script. When users navigate to specific URLs containing malicious payloads in the rate, email, or download parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This improper input handling creates an environment where attacker-controlled code can execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core application functionality where users naturally interact with file rating systems, email notifications, and download mechanisms, making the attack surface broad and easily accessible.
Operationally, this XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to both end users and system administrators. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, inject phishing content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential account takeover scenarios where attackers can manipulate file rating systems or gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects the application's core functionality and can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns that trick users into clicking malicious links, or through automated scanning tools that systematically test for such vulnerabilities. According to the attack technique framework, this represents a classic server-side XSS attack pattern that falls under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2002-1929 requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the affected application. Developers should implement strict input sanitization routines that filter or escape all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web pages. The solution must include comprehensive parameter validation for the rate, email, and download action parameters, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized through proper HTML entity encoding. Additionally, implementing a content security policy can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The fix should be implemented across all affected versions of paFileDB from 1.1.3 through 3.0, with immediate attention given to updating the application to prevent exploitation of this persistent security weakness.