CVE-2003-1190 in PHPRecipeBook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHPRecipeBook 1.24 through 2.17 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a recipe.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1190 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting PHPRecipeBook versions 1.24 through 2.17. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of recipe data input, where user-supplied content fails to undergo proper sanitization before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability operates under the well-established CWE-79 classification for Cross-Site Scripting, which is categorized as a fundamental web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into content viewed by other users. The specific implementation issue allows malicious actors to exploit the lack of input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the recipe submission and display functionalities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a recipe containing malicious script code within the recipe content fields. When other users view the affected recipe page, the embedded scripts execute in their browsers within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration operations. This flaw particularly affects web applications that do not properly escape or validate user input before rendering it in HTML contexts, making it a classic example of insecure data handling practices that violate fundamental web security principles.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for users of PHPRecipeBook installations, as it allows remote code execution within the browser context of authenticated users. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges beyond the ability to submit recipes, making it accessible to any user with account access. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the application's failure to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding controls, which are essential defensive measures recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform session manipulation, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to phishing sites, effectively compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's user base.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1190 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied content before processing or displaying it within web pages. Organizations should deploy proper HTML escaping routines for all dynamic content, utilize secure coding practices that prevent script injection, and implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's application security categories. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious input patterns, and ensuring that all third-party applications are kept current with security patches. The remediation process should include thorough code review procedures to identify similar input handling issues across the application's functionality, as this vulnerability type often appears in multiple locations within web applications.