CVE-2004-1837 in Mod Survey
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Mod_survey 3.0.x before 3.0.16-pre2 and 3.2.x before 3.2.0-pre4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the certain survey fields or error messages for malformed query strings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in the Mod_survey web application version 3.0.x before 3.0.16-pre2 and 3.2.x before 3.2.0-pre4, representing a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects survey fields and error messages that handle malformed query strings, creating an attack surface where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines the classic cross-site scripting weakness where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data.
The technical flaw manifests when the application processes malformed query strings or survey input fields without adequate input filtering mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that get executed when other users view the affected survey pages or error messages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects both the survey functionality and error handling components, expanding the potential attack vectors significantly. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Token Hijacking and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS to gain unauthorized access to user sessions or execute arbitrary commands through browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using Mod_survey, as it can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential data exfiltration. Users who interact with survey forms or encounter error messages may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects both the application's core functionality and its error reporting mechanisms, making it difficult for administrators to predict or fully mitigate all potential attack scenarios. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive survey data, session theft, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure if the compromised users have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to Mod_survey versions 3.0.16-pre2 or 3.2.0-pre4 where the vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, administrators should implement proper sanitization of all user inputs, particularly in error message handling and survey field processing. Input validation should occur at multiple levels including client-side and server-side, with proper escaping of special characters in all output contexts. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to limit script execution capabilities, and regular security testing including dynamic application security testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.