CVE-2007-2801 in eTicket
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in open.php in eTicket 1.5.5 and 1.5.5.1, when register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) err and (2) warn parameters. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of the issue, stating that "eTicket is not designed to work with register_globals On."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2801 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the eTicket 1.5.5 and 1.5.5.1 web applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the open.php script and manifests when the PHP configuration parameter register_globals is enabled on the web server. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers through manipulation of the err and warn parameters. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, making it a well-documented and serious security concern in web application development.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of user-supplied input within the eTicket application's open.php script. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from request data, including GET and POST parameters. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing crafted err and warn parameter values that contain embedded JavaScript code or HTML content. These parameters are then processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding, allowing the malicious code to execute in the victim's browser when the page loads. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where the application fails to properly escape or filter user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of the affected web application. An attacker could craft a malicious link containing script code that would execute whenever a user clicks on it, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application by allowing unauthorized code execution within legitimate user sessions. This creates a significant risk for organizations using eTicket as their help desk management system, as compromised user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive support ticket data and system functionality.
The vendor's response dismissing the issue by stating that eTicket is not designed to work with register_globals On represents a fundamental misunderstanding of security best practices. While the vendor's position may be technically correct regarding the application's intended configuration, it fails to acknowledge that many web hosting environments still have register_globals enabled, either due to legacy configurations or misconfigurations. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why applications should implement defense-in-depth security measures regardless of the underlying server configuration, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on input validation and output encoding as critical defensive techniques. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation, input sanitization, and output encoding regardless of server configuration settings to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The recommended mitigation includes disabling register_globals in php.ini configuration, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into web page content.