CVE-2004-1202 in phpCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in parser.php in phpCMS 1.2.1 and earlier, with non-stealth and debug modes enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1202 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the phpCMS content management system version 1.2.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the parser.php component of the application and specifically manifests when the system operates in non-stealth and debug modes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into web page responses. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the file parameter through maliciously crafted web requests, enabling them to inject arbitrary HTML code or JavaScript into the application's output.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical web application security flaw. When phpCMS operates in debug mode, it typically provides additional diagnostic information and may expose internal system details that can be leveraged by attackers. The combination of non-stealth and debug modes creates an environment where input parameters are not adequately sanitized, allowing malicious payloads to persist in the application's response. The file parameter serves as the primary attack vector since it likely controls which files are processed or referenced within the CMS, making it a natural target for injection attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-controllable data flows directly into the application's output without proper encoding or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Remote attackers can craft specially designed URLs containing malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require any special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone who can access the affected website. This type of vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user accounts, data breaches, and reputational damage for organizations relying on vulnerable phpCMS installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1202 should focus on immediate remediation through upgrading to a patched version of phpCMS that addresses the input validation shortcomings. Organizations should disable debug and non-stealth modes in production environments where such vulnerabilities can be exploited. Implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms can prevent similar issues in the future, with developers following secure coding practices such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege and secure configuration management, ensuring that applications are not running in debug mode in production environments. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers web application attacks and exploitation of input validation flaws.