CVE-2002-1931 in paFileDB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHP Arena paFileDB 1.1.3 and 2.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Javascript in the search string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1931 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting PHP Arena paFileDB versions 1.1.3 and 2.1.1. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers through crafted input manipulation. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied search strings before rendering them in web responses, creating an avenue for persistent script injection attacks.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the paFileDB application's search functionality. When users submit search queries containing malicious javascript code, the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization, allowing the injected scripts to be executed by other users who view the search results. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the failure to properly encode output data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites and can be executed through simple web-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1931 extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise user sessions and facilitate more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or deface the affected web application. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious scripts remain embedded in the application's search results and continue to affect users until manually removed. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on user-generated content and search functionality, making it a significant concern for file sharing and database applications. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious content in web applications to execute code on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs through comprehensive validation and encoding mechanisms before processing or displaying any content. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and employ proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content. The application should validate search strings against known malicious patterns and implement strict input length limitations. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly simple functionality like search can become a significant security risk when not properly secured.