CVE-2002-2056 in Teekai
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in TeeKai Forum 1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the valid_username_online cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2018
The CVE-2002-2056 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed in TeeKai Forum version 1.2, a web-based discussion platform that was prevalent during the early 2000s era of internet development. This vulnerability specifically targets the forum's handling of user authentication cookies, particularly the valid_username_online cookie that is used to track online users within the application. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the forum's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture where user-supplied data from authenticated sessions is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing HTML or JavaScript code and injects it into the valid_username_online cookie value. When the forum application processes this cookie during session handling or user listing operations, it fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing the malicious code to execute within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent XSS condition where any user who views the affected page or interacts with the online user list will unknowingly execute the injected script. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including cookie manipulation via browser developer tools, malicious URL parameters, or through more sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the forum's session management mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a core category for XSS vulnerabilities. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing, as attackers can craft malicious cookies to deliver payloads that compromise user sessions or steal sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-2056 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with significant capabilities to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the forum environment. Attackers can use the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface forum content, or harvest sensitive user information from the browser context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in a forum environment where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive discussions, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to protected areas or manipulate forum content. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious scripts can continue to affect users until the forum is patched or the affected cookies are cleared. This vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that violates fundamental web application security principles and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing client-side attacks. Organizations using vulnerable versions of TeeKai Forum or similar legacy applications should immediately implement mitigations including cookie sanitization, proper HTML escaping, and input validation controls to protect against such attacks.
The vulnerability landscape surrounding CVE-2002-2056 reflects the broader security challenges of the early web application era when many developers did not fully appreciate the importance of sanitizing user inputs or properly escaping output. This flaw underscores the need for comprehensive security training and the implementation of secure coding practices that were not as prevalent in 2002. Modern security frameworks and practices have evolved significantly since this vulnerability was discovered, with industry standards emphasizing the importance of input validation, output encoding, and proper session management. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management, as many legacy applications continue to operate with unpatched vulnerabilities that create ongoing security risks for organizations. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers and web application firewalls to provide defense-in-depth against similar XSS vulnerabilities in their environments.