CVE-2007-2913 in ClonusWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in ClonusWiki .5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2018
The CVE-2007-2913 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the ClonusWiki 0.5 web application that exposes users to potential malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php file and occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the query parameter. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code, creating a persistent security risk for anyone interacting with the vulnerable wiki instance.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent web application security issues identified by the CWE project. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. When a user visits a maliciously crafted URL containing the injected script, the code executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the user's privileges within the wiki environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the wiki system. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by unsuspecting users, execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system or network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2913 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input parameters before processing or displaying them in web pages, particularly the query parameter that serves as the attack vector. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for web application security, emphasizing the importance of input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers, regularly updating the ClonusWiki application to newer versions, and conducting security code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for defensive programming practices and demonstrates how even seemingly simple web applications can contain dangerous security flaws that require immediate attention and remediation.