CVE-2004-2040 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in e107 0.615 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) LAN_407 parameter to clock_menu.php, (2) "email article to a friend" field, (3) "submit news" field, or (4) avmsg parameter to usersettings.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2040 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the e107 content management system version 0.615. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The flaw manifests across multiple attack vectors including the LAN_407 parameter in clock_menu.php, email article functionality, news submission forms, and the avmsg parameter within usersettings.php, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to exploit. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or redirect victims to malicious sites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when users interact with web forms or parameters that accept user input without adequate sanitization processes. When an attacker submits malicious script code through any of the identified parameters, the vulnerable e107 application fails to properly escape or encode the input before displaying it to other users. This creates an environment where the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface expands significantly due to the multiple vulnerable parameters, increasing the probability of successful exploitation and providing attackers with various methods to bypass potential security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could lead to complete system compromise. An attacker could leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to establish persistent access through session hijacking, redirect users to malicious domains hosting malware, or exploit the compromised user context to access sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the content management system, potentially undermining user trust and the integrity of the website's content management capabilities. From an attacker's perspective, the low complexity of exploitation combined with the high impact makes this vulnerability particularly attractive for widespread abuse, as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute successful attacks against vulnerable installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2040 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of e107, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through improved sanitization of user inputs. Implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages provides the primary defense against XSS attacks. Security measures should include the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, along with regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and ATT&CK framework techniques for web application exploitation, emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth approaches that protect against both known and emerging threats.