CVE-2004-2358 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin_words.php for phpBB 2.0.6c allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2358 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the phpBB 2.0.6c forum software, specifically within the admin_words.php administrative component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the id parameter in the admin_words.php script, which serves as an entry point for attackers to inject malicious scripts. When an administrator or regular user accesses a page that processes this unsanitized input, the injected script executes in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in administrative contexts where the affected script handles word replacement functionality, as it could allow attackers to manipulate forum content or gain elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the application's input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2358 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the forum environment. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to forum administrators, making detection more difficult. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the forum's data and user interactions, as compromised sessions can be used to post malicious content, alter forum settings, or steal sensitive information. This weakness particularly impacts the trust model of the forum software, as users cannot be certain that the content they interact with is authentic and safe.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping techniques before rendering it in web pages, specifically implementing HTML entity encoding for output contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of the principle of least privilege in administrative interfaces, as the flaw allows attackers to exploit administrative functionality through simple parameter manipulation. Additionally, regular security auditing and input validation testing should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues in future versions, aligning with the ATT&CK technique of T1590 for reconnaissance through input validation testing and T1071 for application layer protocol usage.