CVE-2004-1822 in Phorum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Phorum 3.1 through 5.0.3 beta allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) HTTP_REFERER parameter to login.php, (2) HTTP_REFERER parameter to register.php, or (3) target parameter to profile.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1822 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Phorum versions 3.1 through 5.0.3 beta. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of HTTP_REFERER parameters and target parameters within specific authentication and profile management scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or arbitrary code execution within the target application's security context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the affected Phorum scripts. When users navigate to login.php, register.php, or profile.php with maliciously crafted parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize the HTTP_REFERER or target values before rendering them in web responses. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed as part of the web page, violating the fundamental principle of input validation and output encoding that modern web applications must enforce.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant security risks including session manipulation, credential theft, and potential account takeovers. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, would execute scripts in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and user profile functionality of Phorum, making it particularly dangerous as it targets user interaction points where sensitive information is typically handled. The widespread use of Phorum in web forums and content management systems amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability across multiple deployments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. Organizations running affected Phorum versions should immediately implement input validation measures, including proper sanitization of HTTP_REFERER and target parameters, and apply output encoding to prevent script execution. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of web application inputs can provide additional defense layers. The remediation approach should focus on comprehensive parameter validation, proper HTML encoding of user-supplied content, and maintaining up-to-date application versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.