CVE-2004-1441 in Board Power
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in icq.cgi in Board Power 2.04PF allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1441 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Board Power 2.04PF software's icq.cgi component. This issue resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the action parameter, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's processing logic, specifically in how it handles the action parameter that flows directly into the HTTP response without proper sanitization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the typical XSS attack pattern where malicious input is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in the web browser context. When a user submits a request containing crafted malicious content in the action parameter, the icq.cgi script processes this input without adequate validation mechanisms, allowing the injected script to execute within the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent security risk where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior and potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it demonstrates poor input sanitization practices that violate fundamental secure coding principles.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the Board Power application environment. Attackers could exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access or physical proximity, making it particularly dangerous for web applications with wide user bases. The vulnerability affects the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain elevated privileges within the system. This flaw also impacts the overall security posture of organizations relying on the affected software, potentially leading to compliance violations and regulatory penalties.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application's codebase. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or upgrade to patched versions of Board Power 2.04PF to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, developers should implement proper input sanitization techniques including HTML entity encoding, regular expression filtering, and strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs. The application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including client-side and server-side controls, with proper error handling to prevent information leakage. Security teams should conduct regular code reviews and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure web application development, ensuring that all input is properly validated and all output is appropriately encoded before rendering in the browser context.