CVE-2004-2138 in Mysqlguest
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in AWSguest.php in AllWebScripts MySQLGuest allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and PHP code via the (1) Name, (2) Email, (3) Homepage or (4) Comments field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2138 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the AWSguest.php component of AllWebScripts MySQLGuest web application. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution through malicious input injection, creating significant security risks for web applications that process user-submitted data. The flaw specifically affects four distinct input fields including Name, Email, Homepage, and Comments, making it particularly dangerous as these fields are commonly used in guestbook and comment systems where user interaction is expected and encouraged.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the AWSguest.php script. When users submit data through any of the affected fields, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or PHP code by web browsers. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the web application. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in the OWASP Top Ten.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations using the AllWebScripts MySQLGuest application, as it enables attackers to compromise the integrity of user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as malicious actors could leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies, or execute commands on the victim's browser. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to both skilled attackers and automated exploitation tools. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it can be exploited through crafted input fields that appear legitimate to end users.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers should employ proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped to prevent interpretation as executable code. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation efforts must address the root cause by ensuring that all user input is properly validated and sanitized according to security best practices, including the implementation of allowlists for acceptable characters and the use of established security libraries for input processing.