CVE-2004-2038 in Land Down Under
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Land Down Under (LDU) before LDU 700 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a BBcode img tag in (1) functions.php, (2) header.php or (3) auth.inc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The CVE-2004-2038 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Land Down Under (LDU) content management system prior to version 700. This vulnerability resides in the BBcode parsing functionality and specifically affects three core system files including functions.php, header.php, and auth.inc.php. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the BBcode img tag processing mechanism, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious BBcode img tag containing embedded JavaScript or HTML payload within the image source attribute or other parameters. When the vulnerable LDU system processes these tags in the specified PHP files, it fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing the malicious code to be stored and subsequently executed when legitimate users view pages containing the compromised content. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically targeting the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted areas of the website, modify content, or even install backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of affected LDU installations, making it particularly dangerous as any authenticated user could potentially become a vector for further attacks. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that can be facilitated through web-based vulnerabilities like XSS.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2038 require immediate patching of the LDU system to version 700 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, particularly for all BBcode and HTML content processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper output encoding, and regular security auditing of user input processing functions should be enforced. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious BBcode patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user-supplied content before processing, as highlighted in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.