CVE-2007-0846 in Open Tibia Server CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in forum.php in Open Tibia Server CMS (OTSCMS) 2.1.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via the name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0846 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Open Tibia Server CMS version 2.1.5 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the forum.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to other users. The vulnerability specifically targets the name parameter which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the web application's output.
This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a core weakness. The flaw enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The vulnerability is classified as remote because attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the target system or user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted URL.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the web application. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify the content displayed to other forum users. The Open Tibia Server CMS, being a content management system for online gaming communities, makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it affects user-generated content platforms where trust and security are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach requires sanitizing all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within the application. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and employing input validation libraries that can identify and block malicious payloads. Additionally, developers should implement proper parameter validation specifically for the name parameter in forum.php, ensuring that all input adheres to expected formats and rejects any potentially harmful content. The remediation process should follow the ATT&CK framework's approach to web application security by addressing the root cause through proper input handling rather than relying on reactive measures such as output filtering alone.
The vulnerability demonstrates how legacy web applications often suffer from inadequate security controls, particularly in older CMS versions that may not have received regular security updates or modern security practices. Organizations using outdated CMS platforms should prioritize immediate patching or migration to supported versions that include proper XSS protection mechanisms. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for similar vulnerabilities in web applications, as XSS flaws frequently occur in user input handling components. The incident highlights the importance of implementing security testing during development cycles and maintaining up-to-date security practices to prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced into production systems.