CVE-2007-2306 in Virtual War
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Virtual War (VWar) 1.5.0 R15 and earlier module for PHP-Nuke, when register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) memberlist parameter to extra/login.php and the (2) title parameter to extra/today.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2306 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Virtual War module for PHP-Nuke, specifically affecting versions 1.5.0 R15 and earlier. This vulnerability arises from improper input validation and sanitization within the module's handling of user-supplied data, creating persistent security weaknesses that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the dangerous configuration setting of register_globals being enabled, which automatically converts HTTP request variables into global variables, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the exploitation process more straightforward for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit different parameters within the module's PHP scripts. The first vector targets the memberlist parameter within the extra/login.php file, while the second vector exploits the title parameter in extra/today.php. Both attack paths demonstrate the fundamental flaw in input sanitization where user-provided data flows directly into HTML output without proper encoding or validation measures. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other harmful content that gets executed when legitimate users view the affected pages. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. When register_globals is enabled, the attack becomes even more potent as attackers can manipulate global variables through crafted URLs, potentially bypassing additional security controls that might otherwise be in place. The affected PHP-Nuke environment creates a particularly dangerous scenario where the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring complex exploitation techniques, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Modify System Image" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript", demonstrating how attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to establish persistent access and execute arbitrary code within user browsers.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the affected PHP scripts. Developers must ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being incorporated into HTML output, implementing strict whitelisting of acceptable input values and comprehensive HTML encoding of dynamic content. The most effective mitigation strategy involves disabling the dangerous register_globals configuration setting in PHP, as this eliminates one of the primary attack vectors. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, input validation libraries, and regular security code reviews can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit these XSS flaws. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of legacy PHP configurations that can undermine modern security practices, emphasizing the need for continuous security assessment and remediation of outdated web application components.