CVE-2004-2738 in ZeroBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in check_user_id.php in ZeroBoard 4.1pl4 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the user_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2738 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ZeroBoard 4.1pl4 content management system, specifically affecting the check_user_id.php component. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has persisted across numerous systems throughout the years. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the user identification verification mechanism, where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the user_id parameter within the check_user_id.php script, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code directly into the application's response. When the vulnerable application processes this parameter without appropriate sanitization measures, the injected code becomes part of the web page content and executes within the context of other users' browsers who subsequently access the affected page. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, enabling the attacker to bypass normal security restrictions that would otherwise protect users from malicious content execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1059 technique category for executing malicious code through web applications, and represents a significant vector for advanced persistent threats that could compromise user credentials or establish backdoor access to the affected system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications handling user authentication and identification processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2738 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques before incorporating it into web page output, specifically implementing HTML entity encoding for any data that will be rendered within HTML contexts. Organizations should also implement proper parameter validation to reject or filter out potentially malicious input patterns, and consider adopting modern web application frameworks that include built-in protection mechanisms against XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices as defined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and the ISO/IEC 27001 information security management framework.