CVE-2007-2963 in Invision Power Board
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Invision Power Board (IPB or IP.Board) 2.2.2, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) module_bbcodeloader.php, (2) module_div.php, (3) module_email.php, (4) module_image.php, (5) module_link.php, or (6) the editorid parameter to module_table.php in jscripts/folder_rte_files/. NOTE: some details were obtained from third party sources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2963 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Invision Power Board version 2.2.2 and potentially earlier releases. This flaw resides within the forum software's handling of user input across multiple modules, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability impacts the core functionality of the platform by allowing remote code execution through web-based attacks that exploit improper input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans across several specific files within the IPB codebase, including module_bbcodeloader.php, module_div.php, module_email.php, module_image.php, module_link.php, and the editorid parameter within module_table.php located in the jscripts/folder_rte_files/ directory. These modules process user-generated content and forum interactions, making them prime targets for XSS exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input sanitization failure where user-provided data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to users, creating persistent XSS opportunities that can be leveraged by attackers to inject malicious scripts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to forum administrators and users alike, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the browser context of legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple script injection to potentially allow session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized actions within the forum environment. Attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to create persistent backdoors, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate forum content to spread further attacks. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the vulnerable parameters.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 technique for initial access through malicious inputs. Organizations using affected versions of IPB should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-provided content, particularly in rich text editor contexts. The recommended approach involves implementing strict content sanitization, employing proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and ensuring all user-generated content is properly validated before storage or display. Additionally, applying the latest security patches from Invision Power Board, if available, and implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities would provide layered protection against exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability type represents a fundamental flaw in web application security practices, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing client-side attacks. The persistence of such vulnerabilities in widely deployed forum software demonstrates the ongoing need for comprehensive security testing and regular patch management procedures. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar input validation weaknesses and implement robust security controls to prevent unauthorized code execution in user contexts.