CVE-2007-1780 in Overlay Weaver
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the DHT shell (owdhtshell) in Overlay Weaver 0.5.9 to 0.5.11, when invoked with the -x option, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via fields in certain input forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1780 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Overlay Weaver software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions 0.5.9 through 0.5.11. This issue manifests in the DHT shell component known as owdhtshell when executed with the -x command line option, creating a dangerous attack vector that enables remote adversaries to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into vulnerable input forms. The vulnerability falls under the well-established CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the DHT shell's form processing mechanisms. When the owdhtshell component handles user input through specific forms, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through the affected input fields, get executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The -x option appears to enable a mode where the shell processes external input without sufficient sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be directly embedded into the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the broader Overlay Weaver ecosystem and represents a significant risk to web applications that rely on this DHT shell functionality for distributed network operations. Attackers could leverage this flaw to compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, particularly in environments where the Overlay Weaver components are exposed to untrusted input sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the DHT shell component. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing and ensuring that any output rendered to web browsers properly escapes special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript. Security patches should be applied to upgrade to versions of Overlay Weaver that address this specific XSS vulnerability, with the implementation of proper parameter validation and HTML escaping routines. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and input validation frameworks that align with industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, which specifically categorize XSS vulnerabilities under the execution and persistence attack vectors. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses in other components of the Overlay Weaver system.