CVE-2004-2688 in newsPHP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in NewsPHP allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cat_id parameter. NOTE: this issue might overlap vector 3 in CVE-2006-3358.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2688 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affects the NewsPHP application's index.php script. This security weakness resides in the handling of the cat_id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's output. The vulnerability operates within the context of web applications that process user input through URL parameters, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit client-side security mechanisms. The issue falls under the broader category of injection vulnerabilities that have been consistently identified as critical threats to web application security since the early days of internet commerce and content management systems.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the NewsPHP application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input from the cat_id parameter before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. When a user visits a page with a maliciously crafted cat_id value, the web application processes this input without adequate validation or encoding, allowing the injected script to execute within the context of the victim's browser session. This flaw enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's input handling mechanism, where the cat_id parameter is directly used in the script output without proper sanitization, creating an exploitable condition that violates fundamental web security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Users who visit infected pages become unwitting participants in the attack, as their browsers execute the malicious scripts without their knowledge or consent. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where NewsPHP is used for content management or news distribution, as the attack surface includes any user interaction with the application's web interface. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that it operates at the application layer, where user input is processed and rendered, making it difficult to detect and prevent without proper security controls in place. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often remain undetected for extended periods, particularly in legacy applications that have not undergone comprehensive security assessments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2688 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly URL parameters like cat_id, before processing or rendering them in HTML contexts. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding, using parameterized queries where applicable, and establishing comprehensive input validation rules that reject or filter out potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of inline scripts and other potentially dangerous elements. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common vector that attackers use to establish persistent access to web applications. Security teams should also reference ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that often leverage XSS vulnerabilities to gain initial access to systems. Regular security assessments, code reviews, and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.