CVE-2007-0175 in b2evolution
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in htsrv/login.php in b2evolution 1.8.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via scriptable attributes in the redirect_to parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2017
The CVE-2007-0175 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the b2evolution content management system version 1.8.6. This vulnerability specifically targets the htsrv/login.php script which handles authentication and redirection processes. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input in the redirect_to parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. This type of 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 exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing scriptable attributes within the redirect_to parameter that gets processed by the vulnerable login script. When a victim clicks such a link and is redirected to the vulnerable page, the malicious script executes within the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the authentication layer where users expect security and trust, making successful exploitation more likely to result in broader compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct session hijacking attacks, steal user credentials, and perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is expanded due to the redirect mechanism, which often bypasses normal security checks that would otherwise prevent script injection. This vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent attacks against legitimate users, as the malicious scripts can execute every time the affected page is accessed. The security implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential privilege escalation and complete system compromise if attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain administrative access.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense against this type of vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policies. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict validation of all redirect parameters, employing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and utilizing security headers such as Content Security Policy to prevent unauthorized script execution. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers leverage script injection to execute malicious code within the victim's browser environment. The fix requires comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script execution in contexts where it is not intended, aligning with security standards that emphasize the principle of least privilege and proper data validation at all input points.