CVE-2004-1863 in XMB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in XMB (aka extreme message board) 1.9 beta (aka Nexus beta) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the u2uheader parameter in editprofile.php, the restrict parameter in (2) member.php, (3) misc.php, and (4) today.php, and (5) an arbitrary parameter in phpinfo.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1863 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting XMB version 1.9 beta, also known as Nexus beta, which operates as a web-based message board platform. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core PHP scripts, creating multiple attack vectors that enable remote malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the affected system. The flaw specifically manifests in five distinct locations within the application's codebase, each representing a separate entry point for potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied input parameters across several key PHP files. In editprofile.php, the u2uheader parameter fails to adequately sanitize user input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. Similarly, the restrict parameter in member.php, misc.php, and today.php all exhibit identical weaknesses, where user-provided values are directly incorporated into output without proper encoding or validation. The fifth vulnerability exists in phpinfo.php where any arbitrary parameter can be exploited to inject malicious content. These flaws collectively demonstrate a fundamental lack of input sanitization practices and reflect poor secure coding principles that violate established security standards.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1863 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to victim sessions and the ability to manipulate the application's behavior. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential for privilege escalation within the message board environment. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access or authentication, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Users who browse pages containing malicious scripts injected through these vulnerabilities may unknowingly execute harmful code that can redirect them to phishing sites, steal cookies, or modify board content. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can compromise entire web platforms.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all affected PHP scripts, with particular attention to the parameters mentioned in the vulnerability description. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages, as well as employing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version that addresses these specific XSS vulnerabilities, as the vulnerability affects multiple core components of the message board system. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content delivery.