CVE-2004-2210 in Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Express-Web Content Management System (CMS) allow remote attackers to steal cookie-based authentication information and possibly perform other exploits via the (1) n, (2) b, (3) e, or (4) a parameters to default.asp, (5) the Referer header in an HTTP request to login.asp, or (6) the email parameter to subscribe/default.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The CVE-2004-2210 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Express-Web Content Management System that exposes users to significant security risks. This vulnerability affects multiple parameters and endpoints within the CMS, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote threat actors. The flaw specifically targets the default.asp, login.asp, and subscribe/default.asp pages, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from various points within the application's attack surface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses, creating persistent XSS opportunities that can be exploited across different functional areas of the CMS.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of specific HTTP parameters and headers that are processed by the CMS without proper sanitization. The n, b, e, and a parameters in default.asp serve as primary attack vectors where malicious input can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. Additionally, the Referer header processing in login.asp and the email parameter in subscribe/default.asp create secondary exploitation paths that can be leveraged to capture authentication cookies and session information. These vulnerabilities align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrate how improper input handling can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2210 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to full account compromise and unauthorized administrative access to the CMS. Attackers can leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to steal cookie-based authentication information, which typically contains session tokens and user credentials that can be used to impersonate legitimate users. The ability to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers creates persistent threats that can remain active for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to monitor user activities, capture additional authentication tokens, and perform unauthorized actions within the CMS. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations relying on Express-Web CMS for content management, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the root cause through comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs, particularly those processed by default.asp, login.asp, and subscribe/default.asp endpoints. The implementation of proper HTML encoding and context-appropriate output sanitization can prevent malicious scripts from executing when user data is rendered in web responses. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Security controls should include regular input validation testing, web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter values, and comprehensive security auditing of all CMS components to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves using credentials from password reuse to maintain access to systems. The remediation approach should also include user education about phishing and social engineering attacks that might leverage these vulnerabilities, as well as implementing proper session management controls to limit the damage potential of successful XSS exploitation.