CVE-2007-2432 in nukedit
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in utilities/search.asp in nukedit 4.9.7b allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the terms parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2432 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the nukedit content management system version 4.9.7b. This security weakness specifically affects the utilities/search.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability occurs when the terms parameter is processed without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The affected system fails to implement proper input sanitization measures, allowing attackers to exploit this weakness through crafted malicious payloads delivered via the search functionality.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. When users submit search terms through the terms parameter, the application directly incorporates these inputs into HTML output without appropriate security controls. This creates a scenario where an attacker can embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML elements that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the search results. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of web shells and malicious scripts for initial access and persistence. The lack of input validation and output encoding creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially escalate their privileges or access sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft search terms that, when executed in a victim's browser, would steal session cookies or credentials, redirect users to phishing pages, or even deface the website content. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The widespread use of nukedit in web publishing environments increases the potential attack surface, as multiple websites could be compromised through this single vulnerability. Organizations relying on this CMS version face significant risk of user data compromise and potential unauthorized access to their content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper encoding before rendering them in web responses, specifically implementing HTML entity encoding for the terms parameter in the search functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and prevent unauthorized code injection. The application should be upgraded to a patched version of nukedit that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version 4.9.7b is no longer supported and likely contains additional security flaws. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious search queries and user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of web applications should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, with particular attention to input handling and output generation processes that align with CWE-79 requirements for secure web application development practices.