CVE-2004-2510 in UBB.threads
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in showflat.php in Infopop UBB.Threads before 6.5 allows 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 CVE-2004-2510 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Infopop UBB.Threads bulletin board software version 6.4 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the showflat.php script which processes category parameters without proper input sanitization. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the Cat parameter, creating a persistent security risk for forum administrators and users who access the compromised platform.
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 technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. The Cat parameter in showflat.php serves as the attack vector where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation mechanisms that should have been implemented to sanitize all user-provided data before processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When authenticated users browse pages that contain the injected malicious code, their browsers execute the scripts, potentially allowing attackers to steal cookies, modify forum content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even gain administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the forum's data and user sessions, making it particularly dangerous for community platforms where users trust the system with personal information and discussions.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged in combination with other techniques to create more sophisticated attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers can use the XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads through crafted forum posts or links. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensure all user-provided data is properly sanitized before processing, and maintain up-to-date security patches for all web applications. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to UBB.Threads version 6.5 or later, implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and regular security assessments of web applications can help prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities in the broader threat landscape.