CVE-2007-0696 in Free Lan Intra Internet Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in error messages in Free LAN In(tra|ter)net Portal (FLIP) before 1.0-RC3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, different vectors than CVE-2007-0611.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2017
The CVE-2007-0696 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Free LAN In(tra|ter)net Portal (FLIP) software ecosystem, specifically targeting error message handling mechanisms. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.0-RC3 and demonstrates the classic pattern of insecure input validation where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The flaw manifests in the error message generation process, where unspecified parameters are directly incorporated into the output without adequate sanitization or encoding, creating a vector for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate output encoding practices within the FLIP application's error handling subsystem. When the system encounters malformed input or processing errors, it generates error messages that include user-provided parameters in their display. These parameters are not subjected to proper HTML escaping or sanitization before being rendered in the web browser context. This creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious input that, when processed and displayed in error messages, executes arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 principle of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as reflected XSS where the malicious payload is reflected off the web server in error responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions and sensitive information. When victims encounter error messages containing malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 demonstrates its potential for initial access through malicious web content, while the reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious code can be delivered through various vectors including phishing emails or compromised web pages. The fact that this vulnerability operates through error message handling rather than normal application interfaces makes it particularly insidious as it can be triggered by unexpected input patterns that users might encounter during normal system operation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0696 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the FLIP application. The primary defense involves ensuring that all user-supplied data, particularly parameters used in error message generation, undergo proper HTML escaping before being rendered in web contexts. This can be achieved through the implementation of secure coding practices that enforce strict input sanitization and output encoding at all points where user data is processed. Additionally, the system should be upgraded to version 1.0-RC3 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper parameter handling and sanitization. Organizations should also implement content security policies to further limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and establish comprehensive monitoring of error message generation to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, particularly in error handling scenarios where unexpected input patterns can lead to security breaches.