CVE-2003-1372 in myPHPNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in links.php script in myPHPNuke 1.8.8, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via the (1) ratenum or (2) query parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The CVE-2003-1372 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in myPHPNuke version 1.8.8 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability resides within the links.php script which serves as a component for managing and displaying links within the content management system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is rendered back to web browsers. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads in the ratenum or query parameters that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a security weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. The attack vector leverages the web application's failure to implement proper input sanitization techniques, specifically targeting HTTP parameters that are processed by the links.php script. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic injection flaw where user-controllable input flows directly into the application's output without adequate security controls to prevent malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker could execute malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This represents a significant threat to user privacy and application integrity, as the vulnerability enables persistent cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise multiple users over time. The exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in web applications with many users. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the links management system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the display of external links or inject malicious content into the application's interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves properly sanitizing all user inputs through the ratenum and query parameters before they are processed or displayed. This includes implementing strict input validation that rejects or encodes potentially malicious characters, as well as employing output encoding techniques that prevent HTML and JavaScript execution in contexts where such code should not be interpreted. Security patches should be applied immediately to update to versions that address this vulnerability, while administrators should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other application components and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered to end users. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution in the browser context.