CVE-2004-2241 in Phorum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Phorum 5.0.11 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via search.php. NOTE: some sources have reported that the affected file is read.php, but this is inconsistent with the vendor s patch.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability affects Phorum versions 5.0.11 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability specifically resides in the search.php script, though some conflicting reports suggest read.php as the affected file, with vendor patches confirming search.php as the primary target. The flaw allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script code through malicious input parameters, creating a persistent security risk for users interacting with the forum software. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of client-side code injection that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even modify forum content in real-time. When users search for maliciously crafted input strings, the vulnerable code fails to properly sanitize or escape the output, allowing the injected scripts to execute in the browser context of other users. This creates a chain reaction where compromised users inadvertently propagate the malicious code to other forum participants, amplifying the attack scope and making it particularly dangerous for community-driven platforms. The vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including search queries, post titles, or any user-controllable input fields processed by the search functionality.
Security professionals should understand that this vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques outlined in the ATT&CK framework under T1531 for 'Credential Access' and T1059 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through compromised user sessions. The risk is compounded by the fact that forum platforms typically contain sensitive user information, including personal messages, private communications, and potentially confidential business discussions. Organizations using affected Phorum versions should immediately implement input validation measures and output encoding to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. The recommended mitigation includes applying the vendor patch that specifically addresses the search.php file, implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-generated content, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all input handling mechanisms within the application.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content. The flaw represents a common oversight in web development where developers fail to properly validate and escape data before rendering it in web pages, creating persistent security gaps that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise. Security teams should recognize that similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components of the application beyond the immediately identified search.php script, warranting a broader security assessment of the entire codebase. The incident underscores the necessity of implementing comprehensive security testing procedures including automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.