CVE-2004-1384 in phpGroupWare
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in phpGroupWare 0.9.16.003 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) kp3, (2) type, (3) msg, (4) forum_id, (5) pos, (6) cats_app, (7) cat_id, (8) msgball[msgnum], (9) fldball[acctnum] parameters to index.php or (10) ticket_id to viewticket_details.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1384 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting phpGroupWare version 0.9.16.003 and earlier systems. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within web requests, creating an environment where malicious actors can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability impacts multiple parameters across different endpoints including index.php and viewticket_details.php, making it particularly dangerous as it affects various application functionalities and user interaction points. The affected parameters span across different data types and application modules, including kp3, type, msg, forum_id, pos, cats_app, cat_id, msgball[msgnum], fldball[acctnum], and ticket_id, indicating a systemic issue in input validation and output encoding throughout the application's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input before rendering it within web pages. When phpGroupWare processes requests containing these specific parameters, it fails to properly escape or validate the input data, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context. This flaw directly corresponds to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or without a security policy that prevents the execution of scripts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including HTTP GET and POST requests, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to malicious websites. Successful exploitation allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior, potentially gaining access to user accounts, modifying data, or creating backdoors within the system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application, as users may be unable to trust the application's output or maintain secure sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, particularly if they can target administrators or users with elevated privileges, making the impact significantly more severe than a simple XSS attack.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the phpGroupWare application. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation on all user-supplied input, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. The application should employ context-specific output encoding, particularly for HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts, to prevent malicious scripts from executing. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to phpGroupWare versions that address this vulnerability, as the affected version represents an outdated release with known security issues. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall can provide additional protection layers, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks of clicking suspicious links and the importance of maintaining updated software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.