CVE-2004-2720 in Forums 2000
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in register.asp in Snitz Forums 2000 3.4.04 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via javascript events in the Email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2720 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Snitz Forums 2000 platform, specifically affecting versions 3.4.04 and earlier. This issue resides in the register.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized before being processed and stored within the forum's database. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit the email parameter field by injecting malicious javascript events that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This particular weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE project. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute unauthorized commands within the victim's browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Email parameter during user registration processes. When a malicious user submits javascript code within the email field, the vulnerable application fails to properly validate or escape the input before storing it in the database. Subsequently, when other users view the registered user's information, the stored javascript code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the forum application and its users, allowing attackers to inject code that appears to originate from legitimate sources within the forum environment. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where adversaries use javascript to execute malicious payloads in web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attack chains within the forum ecosystem. An attacker could craft malicious scripts that steal session cookies from authenticated users, redirect them to phishing sites, or even create backdoor access points within the forum's user base. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire forum platform, potentially compromising thousands of user accounts if the forum has a large user base. Organizations relying on vulnerable versions of Snitz Forums 2000 face significant risk of data breaches and potential regulatory violations, particularly in environments where user privacy is paramount. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can affect any user who views the malicious content, making it difficult to contain and track.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most direct solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the register.asp component, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before storage. This includes implementing strict validation rules for email addresses and escaping all special characters that could be interpreted as javascript code. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is somehow exploited. The remediation process should include updating to the latest available version of Snitz Forums 2000, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the prevention of XSS vulnerabilities through proper data validation and encoding techniques.