CVE-2004-2207 in Idealbb
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ideal Science IdealBB 1.4.9 through 1.5.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2207 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Ideal Science IdealBB versions 1.4.9 through 1.5.3. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has persisted across decades of software development. The vulnerability permits remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the target application, creating a severe security risk that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the IdealBB forum software. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unknown vectors that likely involve manipulation of user input fields, form submissions, or URL parameters that are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to distinguish between legitimate user content and malicious script code, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers. This behavior typically occurs when the application fails to properly encode or escape special characters in user-supplied data before displaying it in web pages, creating a persistent security gap that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking attacks and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. When users visit compromised pages or interact with malicious content injected through this vulnerability, their browsers execute the malicious scripts which can capture cookies, redirect them to malicious sites, or steal sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that forum software typically handles user-generated content extensively, making it a prime target for exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves the use of malicious web content to compromise systems, and represents a classic example of how web applications can be exploited through improper handling of user input.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2207 should focus on immediate patching of the affected IdealBB versions to the latest secure releases, as this vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that properly sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding techniques can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing to identify potential injection points within web applications, ensuring that all user input is properly validated and sanitized according to established security standards. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust web application security controls to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities that have existed for extended periods.