CVE-2003-0980 in Visitorbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in FreeScripts VisitorBook LE (visitorbook.pl) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via (1) the "do" parameter, (2) via the "user" parameter from a host with a malicious reverse DNS name, (3) via quote marks or ampersands in other parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2018
The CVE-2003-0980 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in FreeScripts VisitorBook LE, a web-based visitor book application that was widely used for collecting user feedback on websites. This vulnerability exists within the visitorbook.pl script which processes user inputs without adequate sanitization, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of multiple input parameters, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit different vectors to compromise the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input before processing or displaying it in web pages. When attackers manipulate the "do" parameter, they can inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context, allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability becomes even more severe when attackers leverage the "user" parameter with a host possessing a malicious reverse DNS name, as this creates a sophisticated attack vector that can bypass certain security measures and appear legitimate to users. Additionally, the inclusion of quote marks or ampersands in other parameters provides multiple entry points for attackers to craft payloads that can successfully exploit the XSS vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Users who visit compromised pages may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can steal cookies, session tokens, or personal information. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but can also impact the overall security posture of websites using the affected application, as successful exploitation can lead to persistent attacks where malicious code remains active in the user's browser until the session expires. The attack surface is further expanded by the multiple parameter vectors, increasing the probability of successful exploitation and making it difficult for administrators to implement comprehensive defenses.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of protection to address this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization. The weakness aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are properly validated and sanitized before being processed or displayed in web applications. Regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection against known attack patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing secure coding practices and proper input validation mechanisms as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security standards, particularly focusing on preventing injection attacks that can lead to XSS exploitation and broader system compromise.