CVE-2003-1536 in DCP-Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Codeworx Technologies DCP-Portal 5.3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the q parameter to search.php and (2) the year parameter to calendar.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1536 represents a critical security flaw in the DCP-Portal content management system version 5.3.1 developed by Codeworx Technologies. This vulnerability manifests as multiple cross-site scripting flaws that enable remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of victim browsers. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components, specifically affecting two distinct entry points that process user-supplied data without proper security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user input. The first vector targets the q parameter in the search.php script, while the second targets the year parameter in calendar.php. Both vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The attack mechanism relies on the application's inability to distinguish between legitimate user input and malicious script code, allowing attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1536 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited for various malicious activities. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or administrative privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics used to gain initial access through malicious links or content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the root cause of inadequate input validation within the DCP-Portal application. Organizations should implement comprehensive output encoding and input sanitization measures across all user-facing parameters, particularly focusing on the search.php and calendar.php scripts. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes any input containing potentially dangerous characters or script tags. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, specifically focusing on proper HTML encoding and context-appropriate output filtering. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning as part of the application lifecycle, as this flaw would have been detectable through automated security testing tools and manual code review processes.