CVE-2007-0694 in DGNews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in footer.php in DGNews 2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the copyright parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2025
The CVE-2007-0694 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the DGNews 2.1 content management system, specifically within the footer.php component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the copyright parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code directly into the website's footer section, potentially affecting all users who view the compromised page. The vulnerability type aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. This particular weakness demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and submits it through the copyright parameter in the footer.php script. The application fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it in the web page context, allowing the injected code to execute within the browser of unsuspecting users. This creates a persistent XSS vector where the malicious script can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the website content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the footer component, which is typically displayed on every page of the website, amplifying the potential impact of a single successful attack. The attack vector falls under the category of stored XSS according to ATT&CK framework technique T1531, as the malicious code is stored on the server and executed when users access the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised web environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session hijacking, deface the website to spread malware, or redirect users to phishing sites that can harvest credentials and sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the DGNews 2.1 system, potentially compromising the trust users place in the website's content and security. Organizations using this version of DGNews face significant risk of reputational damage and potential regulatory violations if user data is compromised through this vulnerability. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in input handling and output encoding that violate fundamental web security principles and standards established by organizations such as the Open Web Application Security Project.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0694 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding implementations within the DGNews 2.1 system. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding mechanisms before rendering content in web pages, particularly for parameters like copyright that are displayed in footer sections. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of DGNews or migrating to more secure content management systems that follow modern security standards. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all input parameters are properly validated and that output encoding is consistently applied throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of input submission that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.