CVE-2004-2122 in Intra Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in intraforum_db.cgi in Intra Forum allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) use_last_read or (2) forum parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2122 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the intraforum_db.cgi script of the Intra Forum web application. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability affects the application's handling of user input parameters, particularly the use_last_read and forum parameters, which are processed without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code within the affected parameters and delivers it to unsuspecting users through social engineering or direct links. When the vulnerable application processes these parameters and incorporates them directly into dynamically generated web pages without proper HTML escaping or output encoding, the malicious script code becomes executable within the victim's browser context. This allows attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's database interaction script, suggesting that the issue lies in how the system handles user-provided data during forum operations and read tracking functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or the deployment of malicious payloads through browser-based attacks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to forum accounts with elevated privileges. The reflected nature of the XSS means that the attack payload is executed immediately when a victim clicks a malicious link, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user interaction for exploitation. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, as the application fails to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2122 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data processing pipeline. The most effective remediation involves proper HTML escaping of all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, which aligns with the OWASP Secure Coding practices and the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. Developers should implement parameterized queries and input sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security code reviews, automated input validation testing, and adherence to secure coding standards including those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 security controls should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense in depth and the necessity of treating all user input as potentially malicious within web applications.