CVE-2003-0416 in Bandmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.cgi for Bandmin 1.4 allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary HTML or script via (1) the year parameter in a showmonth action, (2) the month parameter in a showmonth action, or (3) the host parameter in a showhost action.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0416 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting Bandmin 1.4 web interface software. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a critical security concern for web applications. The flaw exists within the index.cgi script that handles various administrative functions for Bandmin, a monitoring tool for web hosting environments. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an opening for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or script code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct parameter injection points within the Bandmin interface. Attackers can manipulate the year parameter during showmonth actions, the month parameter during showmonth actions, or the host parameter during showhost actions to execute malicious code. When these parameters are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding, the injected scripts become part of the web page content and execute in the context of the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat where any user accessing the affected Bandmin interface could be exposed to the malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it compromises the integrity of the entire monitoring interface. Since Bandmin operates within hosting environments, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data, potentially affecting multiple hosted websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the administrative interface of a monitoring tool, which typically has elevated privileges and access to system information. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web applications through input validation flaws, and T1071.004 which addresses application layer protocol manipulation through web interfaces.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for all user-supplied parameters, output encoding of dynamic content, and the deployment of web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attacks. The remediation process should involve updating to patched versions of Bandmin, implementing proper parameter sanitization, and conducting thorough security reviews of all web applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, as recommended in the OWASP Top Ten security practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder that even administrative interfaces require robust security measures to prevent exploitation by remote attackers.