CVE-2003-1400 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Your_Account module for PHP-Nuke 5.0 through 6.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the user_avatar parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1400 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Your_Account module of PHP-Nuke versions 5.0 through 6.0. This security weakness resides in how the application processes user_avatar parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the module's handling of user-provided avatar data, allowing attackers to exploit the system through crafted malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the Your_Account module fails to properly sanitize the user_avatar parameter before incorporating it into the web page response. This parameter typically accepts image file paths or URLs that are displayed as user avatars within the PHP-Nuke interface. When an attacker submits a malicious avatar URL containing embedded JavaScript code or HTML tags, the application processes this input without adequate filtering or encoding, resulting in the execution of the malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the module's rendering process where user-provided avatar data is directly embedded into HTML output without proper context-aware encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a malicious avatar URL that, when viewed by other users, would execute JavaScript code that steals session cookies or redirects users to phishing sites. This vulnerability particularly affects the confidentiality and integrity of user data within the PHP-Nuke environment, as it allows unauthorized access to user sessions and potentially sensitive information. The widespread use of PHP-Nuke 5.0 through 6.0 in web applications during this period made this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it could compromise numerous websites simultaneously.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 - Phishing, as it enables attackers to create malicious web pages that can be used for social engineering attacks. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures including whitelisting acceptable avatar formats, implementing proper output encoding for all user-provided content, and utilizing Content Security Policy headers to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy web applications. The remediation approach requires both immediate patching of the affected PHP-Nuke versions and long-term architectural improvements to ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs before they are processed or displayed within the application interface.