CVE-2003-0492 in Forums 2000
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.asp for Snitz Forums 3.4.03 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script via the Search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0492 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Snitz Forums software version 3.4.03 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the search.asp component of the forum application, which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application through the Search parameter, potentially compromising user sessions and executing unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in forum environments where users frequently interact with content generated by others, creating an elevated risk for widespread exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the search.asp script. When users submit search queries through the forum interface, the application fails to properly sanitize the input data before processing or displaying it in the web response. This allows malicious actors to craft search terms containing HTML tags or JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view the search results page. The vulnerability specifically targets the Search parameter, which is commonly used in forum applications and typically receives user-submitted content that should be treated as untrusted input. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or deface the forum content. The exploitation requires no special privileges and can be accomplished through simple web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-0492 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire forum ecosystem and potentially gain access to sensitive user information. When users browse forum pages containing malicious search results, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can capture session cookies, redirect to phishing sites, or modify forum content. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of user accounts within the forum environment. The attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Modify Existing Service" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious JavaScript code. The potential for persistent attacks increases when forum administrators or users are tricked into performing searches containing malicious payloads, as the vulnerability can be exploited repeatedly. Organizations running affected versions of Snitz Forums face significant risks including data breaches, reputation damage, and potential legal consequences from compromised user data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0492 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the affected application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before displaying any content in web responses. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation to reject or sanitize potentially malicious input patterns, particularly those containing script tags or common XSS attack vectors. The recommended solution includes upgrading to Snitz Forums version 3.4.04 or later, which contains patches specifically addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking malicious search parameters before they reach the vulnerable application components. Security measures should also include regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The mitigation approach aligns with the OWASP Top 10 security controls, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding as core defensive mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.