CVE-2007-3261 in dKret
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in widgets/widget_search.php in dKret before 2.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO (PHP_SELF).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3261 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the dKret content management system prior to version 2.6. This security weakness resides within the widgets/widget_search.php file and specifically exploits the application's handling of the PATH_INFO parameter, which corresponds to PHP_SELF in the web server environment. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing malicious script injection attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the PATH_INFO variable to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content into the application's response. The PHP_SELF server variable contains the script name and path information, making it susceptible to manipulation through URL rewriting or direct parameter injection. When the dKret application processes this unvalidated input within the widget_search.php component, it fails to properly escape or filter the malicious content before rendering it in the user's browser context. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a malicious URL that, when visited by an unsuspecting user, would execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser session. This could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors through the exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the dKret search widgets, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through legitimate user interactions with the application's search features.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3261 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly server variables like PHP_SELF, before processing or displaying them in web responses. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which addresses the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through input manipulation. Organizations should also implement proper content security policies, utilize proper HTML escaping functions, and ensure that all server variables are validated against expected patterns before being incorporated into dynamic content. Additionally, upgrading to dKret version 2.6 or later resolves this vulnerability through improved input handling mechanisms that prevent the injection of malicious code through the PATH_INFO parameter.