CVE-2004-2484 in PHP Gift Registry
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHP Gift Registry 1.3.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the message parameter to (1) event.php or (2) index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2484 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the PHP Gift Registry version 1.3.5 and earlier systems. This vulnerability exposes web applications to malicious injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw specifically resides in how the application processes user input through the message parameter in two primary script files: event.php and index.php. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious script code within the message field, which gets executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary client-side scripts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious script code is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The message parameter serves as the injection vector, allowing attackers to embed javascript code, html tags, or other malicious content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. When victims navigate to pages containing the malicious input, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability affects core application functionality where users expect to enter personal messages or comments, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using the affected PHP Gift Registry system. The attack surface is broad as any user can potentially exploit this flaw to compromise other users within the same application environment. The remote nature of the attack means that malicious actors do not require physical access or local network privileges to exploit the vulnerability. The attack pattern follows typical XSS exploitation techniques where attackers create malicious payloads that persist in the application's data storage, affecting all subsequent users who view the affected content. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security controls that should be implemented at every layer of web application development. The risk assessment indicates high severity due to the potential for widespread impact across all users of the gift registry system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2484 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or stored in the application. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that filters out potentially dangerous characters and sequences, combined with proper output encoding when rendering user content. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, regular security code reviews, and input sanitization libraries that can handle various script injection attempts. The fix involves modifying the event.php and index.php files to sanitize the message parameter before processing, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized or removed entirely. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include both preventative and detective controls to protect against similar vulnerabilities in web applications.