CVE-2004-1862 in XMB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Extreme Messageboard (XMB) 1.8 SP3 and 1.9 beta allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) xmbuser parameter to xmb.php, (2) folder parameter to u2u.php, (3) viewmost, replymost, or latest parameter to stats.php, (4) message or icons parameter to post.php, (5) threadlist, pagelinks, forumlist, navigation, or (6) forumdisplay parameter to forumdisplay.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2018
The CVE-2004-1862 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Extreme Messageboard versions 1.8 SP3 and 1.9 beta, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization within web applications. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages, creating persistent security risks for web forums and message boards that rely on user-generated content. The flaw exists in multiple entry points across the application's core functionality, specifically targeting parameters that handle user interactions and content display mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of several key parameters within the message board's PHP scripts, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content directly into the web application's response. The xmbuser parameter in xmb.php, folder parameter in u2u.php, and various parameters in stats.php, post.php, and forumdisplay.php all serve as potential injection vectors where user input bypasses proper validation mechanisms. These vulnerabilities enable attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the affected forum environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1862 extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates persistent backdoors within the forum infrastructure that attackers can leverage for ongoing surveillance and system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage. When exploited, these XSS flaws can result in complete compromise of user sessions, enabling attackers to post malicious content, modify forum settings, or redirect users to phishing sites. The multi-vector nature of the vulnerability means that a single compromised parameter could potentially affect multiple forum functions, amplifying the attack surface and making remediation more complex.
Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to address this vulnerability, following OWASP recommendations for XSS prevention. The fix requires sanitizing all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages and implementing proper content security policies. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy web applications, as this type of flaw demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure coding practices throughout the application lifecycle. The vulnerability also highlights the need for proper security training for developers working with web-based applications, particularly those handling user-generated content, to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.