CVE-2007-1241 in Audins Audiens
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in setup.php in Audins Audiens 3.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1241 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Audins Audiens 3.3 web application, specifically within the setup.php file. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization of the PATH_INFO server variable, which is commonly used to pass additional path information to PHP scripts through the web server's URL rewriting mechanisms. The issue allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected application. The PATH_INFO parameter is typically populated by web servers when using URL rewriting or mod_rewrite rules, making it a common vector for such attacks when applications fail to properly sanitize this input source. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in web application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL that includes script code within the PATH_INFO component, which is then processed by the setup.php script without adequate sanitization. When legitimate users navigate to these crafted URLs, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the legitimate PATH_INFO functionality that many web applications use for routing purposes, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious requests. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding, where the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This type of flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of web shells and malicious scripts in web application attacks, and represents a common pattern in web application security vulnerabilities where server-side input processing fails to prevent client-side code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session manipulation, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. In the context of the Audins Audiens application, this vulnerability could compromise the security of the entire setup process, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system configuration or user data. The vulnerability affects any user who accesses the setup.php page through a URL that contains malicious PATH_INFO data, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the application. Organizations using this version of Audins Audiens would be exposed to risks including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential further compromise of the underlying web infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent security weakness highlights the need for comprehensive input validation across all application components that process user-supplied data, particularly in server variables that are commonly used for URL routing and application logic control.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Developers should ensure that all server variables including PATH_INFO are sanitized before being processed or displayed in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any data that will be rendered in web contexts, as well as employing regular expression validation to filter out potentially malicious patterns. The application should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, upgrading to a patched version of Audins Audiens 3.3 or newer versions that address this vulnerability is essential, as the vulnerability represents a known weakness that has likely been addressed in subsequent releases. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive code reviews focusing on input handling and sanitization practices, particularly for server variables that are commonly used in URL routing scenarios. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of following secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both server-side input validation and client-side security measures to prevent cross-site scripting attacks.