CVE-2002-1995 in phptonuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phptonuke.php for PHP-Nuke allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filnavn parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1995 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the PHP-Nuke content management system, specifically within the phptonuke.php component. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct descendant of the well-known web application security weakness that has plagued web systems since the early days of internet development. The flaw manifests when the application processes the filnavn parameter without adequate filtering, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the filnavn parameter within the phptonuke.php script, which serves as an entry point for attackers to inject malicious payloads. When a victim visits a page containing the maliciously crafted URL with the injected script in the filnavn parameter, the web application processes this input without proper sanitization, leading to the execution of the injected code within the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can craft malicious links that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, will execute scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other harmful actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, enabling attackers to exploit the application's legitimate functionality to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire user sessions and potentially provide attackers with persistent access to the affected systems. Attackers can use this vulnerability to establish a foothold for more advanced attacks, including session hijacking, credential theft, and the deployment of additional malicious tools. The attack surface is particularly broad given that PHP-Nuke was widely deployed in web environments during the early 2000s, making numerous websites vulnerable to this class of attack. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Initial Access' and 'Execution' phases, where attackers can leverage web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious code. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, they can continue to affect users until properly patched, making them particularly dangerous for long-running web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1995 must focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation and encoding processes before any data is processed or displayed. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all output, utilizing parameterized queries where applicable, and establishing comprehensive input filtering that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks, though this serves as a defense-in-depth measure rather than a complete solution. The remediation process requires updating the phptonuke.php script to properly validate and sanitize the filnavn parameter, ensuring that all input is checked against a whitelist of acceptable characters and patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as XSS vulnerabilities often occur in multiple locations within complex web applications. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how inadequate security practices in early web development can create persistent threats that require ongoing attention and remediation efforts.