CVE-2007-3054 in Linker
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in Codelib Linker 2.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the kword 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 • 09/03/2018
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3054 affects Codelib Linker version 2.0.4 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of victim browsers. This vulnerability specifically resides in the search.php script where the kword parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code. The issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability demonstrates the classic characteristics of reflected XSS where malicious input is immediately reflected back in the application's response without proper validation or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the kword parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users through phishing emails, social engineering, or by posting links in forums and discussion boards. When a victim clicks the malicious link, the script executes in their browser within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The flaw represents a failure in input validation and output encoding practices, where the application does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects a core search functionality that is likely to be frequently used, increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3054 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session manipulation, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application context. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access user sessions, modify application behavior, or redirect users to malicious websites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation does not require local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user data. This flaw can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving the delivery of malicious code through web-based attacks, and T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through command and scripting interpreters.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, by applying appropriate HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-supplied data. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The application should also enforce proper input validation using allowlists of acceptable characters and lengths, while avoiding the use of deprecated or unsafe functions that could lead to script injection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the wild. Regular updates and patch management processes are essential to ensure that vulnerable versions of Codelib Linker are not deployed in production environments.