CVE-2003-1549 in MyABraCaDaWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in header.php in MyABraCaDaWeb 1.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ma_kw parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1549 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MyABraCaDaWeb content management system version 1.0.2 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the header.php file and specifically targets the ma_kw parameter, which serves as an input vector for user-supplied data. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, thereby compromising the security of users who interact with the vulnerable system.
This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or sanitization. The attack occurs when the application fails to properly encode or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute within the context of other users' browsers. The ma_kw parameter acts as the primary attack surface, accepting user-supplied keywords that are then processed and displayed without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute malicious code in the browsers of unsuspecting users. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected MyABraCaDaWeb versions, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this system for web content management. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by victims, execute in their browsers and potentially compromise their security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on input validation and output encoding principles that align with industry best practices. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper parameter sanitization for the ma_kw input field, ensuring that all user-supplied data is validated against expected formats and sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The remediation process requires updating to MyABraCaDaWeb version 1.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability, while also implementing proper web application security measures such as input filtering and output encoding. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the potential widespread impact of XSS flaws in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the web application attack patterns, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all user input processing within web applications.