CVE-2004-2574 in phpGroupWare
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in phpGroupWare 0.9.14.005 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the date parameter in a calendar.uicalendar.planner menuaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2574 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpGroupWare calendar component that affects versions 0.9.14.005 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the index.php file and specifically targets the calendar.uicalendar.planner menuaction functionality where the date parameter is processed without adequate input validation or output sanitization. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly encode or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the calendar application processes the date parameter through the planner menuaction endpoint. When users interact with the calendar interface and provide date inputs, the application fails to sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the web page context. This omission creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected calendar entries. The flaw manifests as a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where the malicious script is injected into the application's response and subsequently executed by the victim's browser without proper context or authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within the targeted environment. An attacker could craft malicious date inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable phpGroupWare application, would execute scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users. This capability allows for session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise if users have elevated privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the calendar module's user interface and could be exploited through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised calendar pages.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw represents a common weakness in web development practices where input validation and output encoding are insufficiently implemented. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves phishing with malicious attachments or links, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability through crafted calendar entries or calendar invitations. The risk assessment indicates that this vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where calendar sharing and collaboration are common practices.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of phpGroupWare should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for all calendar-related parameters, output encoding of user-supplied data, and application-level filtering of potentially malicious content. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of phpGroupWare that address this vulnerability, while implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the application stack.