CVE-2007-0191 in MKPortal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in MKPortal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via two certain fields in a contents_new operation in the ad_contents section.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2017
The CVE-2007-0191 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the MKPortal content management system's administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin.php file and occurs during content creation operations within the ad_contents section of the system. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through two distinct input fields, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this portal platform. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that malicious payloads can be stored and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by other users, potentially leading to widespread compromise of the system's user base.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the MKPortal administrative interface. When administrators or users submit content through the contents_new operation, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of proper data sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the administrative functionality of the portal, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to compromise administrative sessions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-0191 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, session tokens, and potentially access sensitive administrative functions. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious content remains active until manually removed by administrators, creating an ongoing threat to system security. Organizations using MKPortal would face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential complete system compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the MKPortal application to address the input validation deficiencies in the admin.php file. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures and output encoding to prevent malicious scripts from being executed in the browser context. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the portal system. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the persistent risks associated with legacy web platforms that may not receive regular security updates or patches.