CVE-2007-2349 in IP.Board
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Invision Power Board (IP.Board) 2.1.x and 2.2.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by uploading crafted images or PDF files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2349 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Invision Power Board versions 2.1.x and 2.2.x, specifically targeting the file upload functionality that processes image and PDF documents. This security weakness arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's media handling subsystem, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers upload specially crafted files that contain malicious script code within their metadata or content structures. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize file attributes and content before storing and displaying user-uploaded media, particularly in scenarios where the system processes image files such as jpg or png formats, or pdf documents. The vulnerability manifests when the system renders these files in web pages without adequate filtering of potentially malicious content that could be embedded within file headers or metadata fields.
This XSS vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically targeting the failure to sanitize user-supplied data before it is rendered in web applications. The operational impact of this flaw extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the bulletin board system and compromises the integrity of user interactions within the platform.
The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent scripts that execute whenever affected pages are loaded. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering attacks through spearphishing with links, where the malicious payload is embedded within seemingly legitimate file uploads. The vulnerability particularly impacts user authentication and session management since successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation or unauthorized access to user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2349 require immediate implementation of comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IP.Board application. Organizations should implement strict file type validation, sanitize all uploaded file metadata, and employ proper content security policies to prevent script execution in web contexts. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to patched versions of IP.Board, implementing proper file content scanning, and establishing robust input sanitization processes that comply with OWASP top ten security standards. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous file upload activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.