CVE-2007-3352 in Contact Form
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the preview form in Stephen Ostermiller Contact Form before 2.00.02 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors that contain an apostrophe.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3352 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Stephen Ostermiller Contact Form software version 2.00.01 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the preview functionality of the contact form component, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes user input containing an apostrophe character, which serves as the triggering mechanism for the XSS exploit. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where input data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output sanitization within the contact form's preview mechanism. When users enter data containing an apostrophe character into the form fields, the application does not adequately filter or escape this input before displaying it in the preview context. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that will execute in the browser of any user who views the preview. The exploitation occurs because the application assumes that user input is safe and does not implement proper encoding or sanitization techniques to prevent the execution of unintended code. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the preview functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that could be executed when legitimate users view the preview of contact form submissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute persistent attacks against users who interact with the preview functionality. An attacker could craft a payload that steals session cookies, redirects users to phishing sites, or injects malicious advertisements into the preview window. The vulnerability affects any user who has access to the contact form preview feature, making it particularly concerning for web applications that handle sensitive user information or operate in environments where user trust is paramount. The attack requires minimal sophistication as the vulnerability is triggered by a simple apostrophe character, making it accessible to attackers with basic knowledge of web security principles. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Credential Access: Phishing for Credentials, as it can be leveraged to create convincing phishing attacks or to steal user sessions through session hijacking techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the contact form application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict input validation that filters or escapes special characters including apostrophes before they are processed or displayed in the preview context. Organizations should deploy proper HTML encoding techniques to ensure that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as executable code when rendered in the browser. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The remediation process should include thorough code review to identify all input handling points within the application and ensure that proper sanitization is implemented consistently across all user-facing interfaces. Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the web application, as this vulnerability demonstrates a broader pattern of insufficient input validation that could affect other areas of the software. The fix should also include updating the application to version 2.00.02 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this specific XSS vulnerability.