CVE-2003-1534 in Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in jgb.php3 in Justice Guestbook 1.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name, (2) homepage, (3) aim, (4) yim, (5) location, and (6) comment variables.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1534 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Justice Guestbook 1.3 web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The affected component jgb.php3 serves as a guestbook submission interface where users can leave messages along with personal information such as name, homepage URL, instant messaging handles, and location details. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them back to web browsers, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject executable scripts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious code into any of six specific parameters: name, homepage, aim, yim, location, and comment fields. Attackers can craft payloads that contain javascript code or html tags which get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the guestbook entries. This allows for a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of the guestbook interface, and redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple input fields, increasing the attack surface and providing multiple vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. When exploited, the XSS flaw can compromise the integrity of the entire guestbook system and potentially provide attackers with access to sensitive user information. The affected application becomes a vector for distributing malware to visitors who may unknowingly execute malicious scripts when viewing guestbook entries. This creates a persistent threat that can affect every user who accesses the vulnerable web application, making it a significant concern for website administrators and security professionals. The vulnerability also undermines user trust in the platform and could result in reputational damage for the organization hosting the guestbook.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs before they are processed or stored in the database, ensuring that any potentially dangerous characters or script tags are removed or properly escaped. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider upgrading to more modern guestbook solutions or implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments in the context of web-based attacks.