CVE-2007-1774 in aBitWhizzy
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in aBitWhizzy allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the d parameter to (1) whizzery/whizzypic.php or (2) whizzery/whizzylink.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1774 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the aBitWhizzy web application suite. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically the 'd' parameter that is processed by two distinct script files within the application's whizzery directory. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The affected endpoints whizzery/whizzypic.php and whizzery/whizzylink.php demonstrate a common pattern of insecure input validation where user-provided data flows directly into web output without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate and sanitize input data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability operates by accepting the 'd' parameter through HTTP GET requests and directly embedding its contents into HTML output without appropriate HTML entity encoding or script context validation. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate user experiences and potentially escalate privileges within the application's environment. When users visit pages that utilize the vulnerable parameters, their browsers execute the injected scripts, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the aBitWhizzy application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to compromise any authenticated user. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by victims, automatically execute their payloads and establish a foothold for further exploitation within the application's ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1774 must address the fundamental input validation issues that enable the vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing strict input sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly the 'd' parameter in the affected scripts. This includes applying proper HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content before rendering it in web pages and implementing comprehensive input validation that rejects or filters out potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution contexts and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the application should be updated to use parameterized queries or secure API calls that prevent direct concatenation of user input into executable code. The remediation approach should follow established security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, ensuring that all user-provided data undergoes proper validation and sanitization before being processed or displayed within the application interface.