CVE-2004-1692 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Mambo 4.5 (1.0.9) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Itemid, (2) mosmsg, or (3) limit parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1692 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Mambo 4.5 version 1.0.9, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding practices that were prevalent in web applications of that era. The flaw affects the core content management system functionality by failing to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters before incorporating them into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific parameters within the index.php script: Itemid, mosmsg, and limit. Attackers can manipulate these parameters to inject malicious scripts that will be executed when other users view the affected web pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input where the application directly incorporates parameter values into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. When these parameters are processed by the vulnerable Mambo application, the injected scripts become part of the web page content and execute in the browser context of unsuspecting users. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting web-based execution environments where user input is not properly validated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a specially formatted URL containing malicious script tags that, when clicked by a victim, would execute in their browser context. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised users could unknowingly become part of a botnet or have their session cookies stolen, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of web applications, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The exploitation is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication from the attacker and can be executed through simple web browser interactions, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is sanitized before being processed or displayed in web pages, particularly for parameters that are directly incorporated into HTML output. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation, using proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and employing content security policies to prevent script execution. Additionally, updating to patched versions of Mambo 4.5 is essential as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. The remediation efforts should include comprehensive security testing of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input parameters and ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. This vulnerability serves as a historical example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security implications and highlights the importance of following secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP and NIST.