CVE-2007-3559 in PHP-Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in infusions/shoutbox_panel/shoutbox_panel.php in PHP-Fusion 6.01.10 and 6.01.9, when guest posts are enabled, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI, related to the FUSION_QUERY constant.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3559 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within PHP-Fusion content management system versions 6.01.10 and 6.01.9. This security weakness specifically affects the shoutbox panel functionality when guest posting capabilities are enabled, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the FUSION_QUERY constant processing logic.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of URI parameters that are subsequently processed by the shoutbox_panel.php script. When guest posts are enabled, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This insufficient sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected shoutbox content. The FUSION_QUERY constant serves as the primary vector for this injection, as it handles query string parameters without adequate filtering or encoding measures that would prevent script execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to PHP-Fusion installations that permit guest postings. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface content management interfaces, or execute persistent XSS attacks that compromise user accounts. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core authentication model of the application since it operates with authenticated users in mind, yet fails to adequately protect against malicious input from unauthorized sources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. Additionally, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers credential access through spearphishing attachments, as the XSS could be used to harvest session tokens or other authentication credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that guest posting is often enabled in community-driven applications to encourage user participation, inadvertently creating a security risk that affects all users who interact with the shoutbox functionality.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected PHP-Fusion versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Administrators should implement strict input filtering for all user-supplied content, particularly when guest posting is enabled. The application should employ proper HTML escaping mechanisms when rendering dynamic content, ensuring that special characters are properly encoded to prevent script execution. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of input handling functions can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls may provide additional defense-in-depth measures while patches are being deployed.