CVE-2004-2509 in UBB.threads
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in (1) calendar.php, (2) login.php, and (3) online.php in Infopop UBB.Threads 6.2.3 and 6.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2509 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Infopop UBB.Threads versions 6.2.3 and 6.5. This security weakness manifests in three distinct script files including calendar php login php and online php which together create a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The flaw specifically allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through the Cat parameter which serves as an input vector for user-controllable data processing within the application's core functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the affected php scripts. When user-supplied data is passed through the Cat parameter without proper sanitization or encoding, the application fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and malicious script code. This lack of proper data validation creates an environment where attackers can embed javascript payloads or html content that executes within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly encode output data, allowing attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications. This particular implementation demonstrates a classic reflected XSS pattern where the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the vulnerable application interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The affected scripts calendar php login php and online php represent core application functions that handle user interactions and data presentation, making the attack surface particularly dangerous. Users accessing the vulnerable application could unknowingly execute malicious code when navigating through calendar entries login forms or online user lists. The vulnerability affects both the 6.2.3 and 6.5 versions of the software, indicating this was a persistent flaw across multiple releases and suggesting inadequate security testing during development cycles.
Organizations utilizing Infopop UBB.Threads software should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization that removes or encodes potentially dangerous characters before processing user input. Additionally implementing content security policies and output encoding mechanisms can prevent script execution in browser contexts. Security practitioners should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access through web application exploitation. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive code review processes to identify similar input validation gaps in other application components and establish secure coding practices that prevent such vulnerabilities from recurring in future development cycles.