CVE-2004-2346 in Forum Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Forum Web Server 1.6 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the Subject field in post1.htm and (2) the File Description field in postfile2.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2346 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Forum Web Server versions 1.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the server's handling of user input within specific HTML form fields, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The affected components include the Subject field in post1.htm and the File Description field in postfile2.htm, both of which fail to properly sanitize or validate user-provided data before rendering it back to users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious HTML content that executes in the victim's browser when they view the affected forum posts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the server's insufficient input validation mechanisms within its web interface components. When users submit posts containing malicious scripts in either the Subject or File Description fields, the server processes this input without adequate sanitization measures. The post1.htm form element accepts user input for the Subject field without proper HTML encoding or validation, while postfile2.htm similarly fails to sanitize the File Description field. This lack of input filtering creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious code injected by an attacker can be stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever other users view the affected content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any authenticated or unauthenticated user with access to the forum interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the forum environment. Attackers can craft malicious posts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or inject malicious content that modifies the forum's appearance and functionality. The persistence of these attacks means that once a malicious script is injected, it continues to affect all users who view the affected posts until the content is manually removed or the server is patched. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where users trust the content they see, making it easier for attackers to spread malicious payloads through social engineering. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that forum servers often contain sensitive user information and may be used for business communications, potentially leading to broader security breaches within organizations that rely on these platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2346 should focus on immediate patching of the Forum Web Server software to version 1.7 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within their web applications, ensuring that all user-provided data is properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers social engineering techniques, and T1203 which addresses input validation flaws. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attack patterns, while user education programs can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through awareness of suspicious forum content. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly focusing on preventing injection flaws and ensuring proper data sanitization in web applications.