CVE-2004-2072 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php for Mambo Open Source 4.6, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to execute script on other clients via the Itemid parameter.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2072 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting Mambo Open Source version 4.6 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness resides within the index.php script and demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically exploits the Itemid parameter, which serves as a crucial identifier for menu items within the Mambo content management system architecture. When attackers manipulate this parameter with malicious script code, they can inject executable content that persists in the victim's browser environment, creating a persistent threat vector for unauthorized code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established XSS attack patterns where the malicious payload is embedded within the Itemid parameter and transmitted through HTTP requests to the vulnerable web application. Upon processing this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it in the browser context, allowing the injected scripts to execute within the victim's session. This flaw operates under the CWE-79 classification as a weakness in input validation and output encoding, specifically categorized as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where the malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization. The attack vector leverages the web application's trust in user-supplied parameters, creating an environment where legitimate user sessions become compromised.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the victim's browser context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify page content, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the compromised Mambo installation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users access the system with varying permission levels. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact vector for compromising user sessions and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive application functionality, aligning with tactics described in the attack pattern framework where attackers exploit trust relationships between web applications and their users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2072 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Mambo application. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs, particularly focusing on the Itemid parameter and similar identifier fields. The solution involves applying proper HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that any potentially malicious input is neutralized before execution. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the Mambo installation to versions that address this vulnerability, with additional monitoring of web application logs for suspicious parameter values. The implementation should follow secure coding practices as recommended in OWASP top ten guidelines, specifically addressing the prevention of XSS vulnerabilities through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and web application firewalls as additional layers of defense to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future, ensuring comprehensive protection against persistent threats targeting web application input validation weaknesses.