CVE-2004-0660 in CuteNews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in (1) show_archives.php, (2) show_news.php, and possibly other php files in CuteNews 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary script or HTML via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2025
The CVE-2004-0660 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting CuteNews 1.3.1 web publishing software. This vulnerability manifests in multiple script files including show_archives.php and show_news.php, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability specifically targets the id parameter which serves as an entry point for malicious script injection, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to manipulate the content delivered to end users. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for preventing XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious domains. Attackers can craft specially formatted URLs containing malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can compromise the security of the entire web application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of CuteNews by allowing unauthorized manipulation of the content delivery mechanism, potentially leading to complete compromise of the web server's user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers can use the XSS capability to deliver malicious content through seemingly legitimate web pages. The flaw's presence in multiple files indicates a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture rather than isolated code defects.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0660 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters including the id parameter before processing or displaying them in web pages. This can be achieved through the implementation of strict input validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to filter suspicious requests and implement content security policies that restrict script execution within the application context. Additionally, upgrading to a patched version of CuteNews or migrating to a more secure content management system represents the most effective long-term solution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and input validation testing, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2017 category A03: Injection, which emphasizes the need for comprehensive protection against various injection attacks including XSS. Security teams should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation when such vulnerabilities are discovered.