CVE-2007-0922 in Portal Search
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in buscador/buscador.htm in Portal Search allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0922 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Portal Search component of a web application. This issue specifically affects the buscador/buscador.htm page where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability exists in the handling of the query string parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the search results page. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious query string containing script tags or other HTML content and submits it through the search interface. When the application processes this input and displays it in the search results page, the injected code executes within the context of the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where any user who views the search results page becomes a potential victim of the malicious script execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it leverages JavaScript execution within web browsers to achieve its malicious objectives.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized system access. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application, as it allows unauthorized modification of content and potential information disclosure. This particular flaw represents a significant security risk for any organization relying on web-based search functionality, as it can compromise the trust relationship between the application and its users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0922 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers must ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping and encoding techniques to prevent script execution in the browser context. The solution should involve comprehensive parameter validation, input filtering, and output encoding practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and implement web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can also provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the browser context.