CVE-2004-2351 in gBook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in GBook for Php-Nuke 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via multiple parameters, including (1) name, (2) email, (3) city, and (4) message, which do not use the <script> and <style> tags, which are filtered by PHP-Nuke.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2351 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GBook module of Php-Nuke version 1.0, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. This security defect enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple user input fields including name, email, city, and message parameters, making it particularly dangerous as it targets common data entry points in web applications. The flaw operates by bypassing the standard filtering mechanisms that typically block <script> and <style> tags, allowing attackers to inject malicious code through alternative vectors that are not properly sanitized.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the GBook module's handling of user-submitted data. When users enter information into the specified fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before displaying it back to other users. This oversight creates an environment where malicious actors can embed JavaScript code, HTML elements, or other potentially harmful content that executes in the browser context of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response, making it particularly effective for phishing attacks and session hijacking. The specific filtering bypass occurs because the application's security measures only target explicit script and style tags while failing to address other vectors such as event handlers, data attributes, or other HTML elements that can execute code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides attackers with multiple attack vectors to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. When users view pages containing malicious input, their browsers execute the injected code, which could redirect them to malicious sites, steal cookies and session tokens, or perform actions on their behalf without their knowledge. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the Php-Nuke platform, particularly those who interact with the GBook module, creating a widespread security risk that could be exploited for various malicious purposes including credential theft, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors. Attackers can craft sophisticated payloads that leverage the XSS vulnerability to perform actions such as modifying user permissions, accessing administrative functions, or spreading malware through infected user browsers.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability must address both the immediate input sanitization gaps and implement comprehensive protection mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future. Organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, ensuring that all potentially dangerous characters and patterns are properly escaped or removed before processing. The solution involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding, using secure coding practices such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten, and applying content security policies to limit script execution. Additionally, the fix should include comprehensive testing of all user input fields to ensure that no alternative injection vectors remain viable. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in web application security. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing web-based content management systems. The remediation process requires thorough code review and implementation of proper sanitization libraries that can handle various attack vectors beyond simple tag filtering, ensuring comprehensive protection against both known and unknown XSS techniques that could exploit similar weaknesses in the application architecture.