CVE-2007-1418 in DekiWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in skins/ace/popup-notopic.php in MindTouch OpenGarden DekiWiki before Gooseberry++ allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the message parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2018
The CVE-2007-1418 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MindTouch OpenGarden DekiWiki platform, specifically affecting versions prior to Gooseberry++. This vulnerability resides in the skins/ace/popup-notopic.php script, which processes user input through the message parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's output, creating a persistent security risk for all users interacting with the vulnerable system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the DekiWiki application framework. When the message parameter is passed to the popup-notopic.php script, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary commands within the context of the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1418 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent vector for more sophisticated attacks within the web application environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, conduct session hijacking, or perform phishing attacks against authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the affected DekiWiki installations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who has access to the vulnerable application interface. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of the application's security posture.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, specifically targeting the 'Phishing' technique where attackers manipulate web applications to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent script execution. The recommended remediation involves updating to the Gooseberry++ version or applying the appropriate patches that address the input sanitization issues in the affected PHP script. Additionally, regular security audits and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack, as this flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper input handling and output encoding in preventing client-side exploitation.