CVE-2003-1583 in Webtrends Log Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WebTrends allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted client domain name, related to an "Inverse Lookup Log Corruption (ILLC)" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1583 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WebTrends web analytics platform that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim sessions. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the manipulation of client domain names during the inverse lookup log corruption process, creating a pathway for attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content into the application's output. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the WebTrends logging infrastructure, particularly when processing domain name information from client requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious domain name that contains embedded script code, which then gets processed through the inverse lookup log corruption mechanism. This process, known as ILLC, is responsible for handling reverse DNS lookups and logging client information, making it a prime target for injection attacks. The flaw resides in how the system handles domain name resolution data without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to bypass standard security controls and inject malicious payloads that execute in the browser of unsuspecting users who view the affected web pages. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-1583 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface web applications. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the web analytics reports to include malicious content that persists across multiple user sessions, potentially compromising the integrity of all collected data. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate web analytics functionality, making it difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving the exploitation of web applications to deliver malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures within the WebTrends application. Organizations should deploy proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied input, implement strict domain name validation rules, and ensure that all log processing components properly sanitize data before rendering it in web interfaces. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious domain name patterns and script injection attempts. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of WebTrends that address the inverse lookup log corruption handling and implement comprehensive input sanitization across all data processing pathways. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews focusing on data handling within logging mechanisms and establish proper security testing procedures that include XSS vulnerability assessment during application development and deployment phases.