CVE-2002-2171 in acWEB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in acWEB 1.8 and 1.14 allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary HTML and web script via a URL, possibly via a "%db" request in a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2171 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting acWEB versions 1.8 and 1.14. This security weakness resides in the web application's handling of user input within URL parameters, specifically when processing "%db" request elements. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security flaws. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious URLs containing specially formatted "%db" parameters that contain HTML or script tags. When the acWEB application processes these requests and renders the output without adequate input validation or output encoding, the injected code executes within the context of other users' browsers. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple URL manipulation without requiring any special tools or privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and compromise the integrity of the entire web application. Users who interact with the vulnerable application may unknowingly execute malicious code that can steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect them to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects the core security principle of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Top Ten security risks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or performing administrative actions within the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2171 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly URL parameters, before processing or rendering them in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content and employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URL patterns, while regular security testing including dynamic application security testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Guidelines and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web-based scripting languages. Patching the affected acWEB versions to a secure release that properly handles input validation represents the most effective long-term solution to address this vulnerability.