CVE-2007-3339 in FuseTalk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in forum/include/error/autherror.cfm in FuseTalk Basic, Standard, Enterprise, and ColdFusion allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) FTVAR_LINKP and (2) FTVAR_URLP parameters to (a) forum/include/error/autherror.cfm, and the (3) FTVAR_SCRIPTRUN parameter to (b) forum/include/common/comfinish.cfm and (c) blog/include/common/comfinish.cfm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2024
The CVE-2007-3339 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting weakness affecting FuseTalk forum software across multiple editions including Basic, Standard, Enterprise, and ColdFusion versions. This vulnerability resides within the authentication error handling mechanisms of the software, specifically targeting the error/autherror.cfm component which serves as a critical interface for managing authentication failures and system errors. The flaw manifests through three distinct parameter injection points that collectively create a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation and output encoding practices that have been consistently identified as high-risk security flaws in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of three specific parameters within the affected software components. The FTVAR_LINKP and FTVAR_URLP parameters within the autherror.cfm file accept unvalidated user input that gets directly embedded into web page responses without proper sanitization or encoding. Additionally, the FTVAR_SCRIPTRUN parameter found in both comfinish.cfm files within the forum and blog components presents similar risks. These parameters are typically used to construct error messages or redirect URLs, but when manipulated by attackers, they can inject malicious script code that executes in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core error handling functionality that is invoked during authentication failures, making it accessible to attackers during normal system operation.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3339 extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential for more severe consequences including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to protected forum resources. When an authenticated user encounters an authentication error page, the malicious script injected through these parameters executes within their browser, potentially capturing session cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or performing actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability affects both forum and blog components, amplifying the potential attack surface and impact. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as attackers can leverage these flaws to establish persistent access vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3339 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures across all affected software components. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before they are processed or displayed in error messages, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for dynamic content, and establishing robust parameter validation routines. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter injection attempts. Regular security audits and code reviews should focus on error handling components to identify similar vulnerabilities, and the affected FuseTalk versions should be upgraded to patched releases as soon as possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing all application entry points, particularly those involved in error handling and user feedback mechanisms, as these components often receive untrusted input and form critical attack surfaces in web applications.