CVE-2007-3686 in Unobtrusive Ajax Star Rating Bar
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in db.php in Unobtrusive Ajax Star Rating Bar before 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and data via CRLF sequences in the HTTP_REFERER parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2017
The CVE-2007-3686 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting and header injection flaw within the Unobtrusive Ajax Star Rating Bar plugin version 1.1.9 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the db.php component of the plugin, which processes user input from the HTTP_REFERER header without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject carriage return line feed sequences into the HTTP header processing pipeline, creating a pathway for arbitrary header manipulation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-113 category known as "Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences in HTTP Headers" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for "Proxying" and T1566 for "Phishing". The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly escape or validate input from the HTTP_REFERER parameter before incorporating it into HTTP response headers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP_REFERER value containing CRLF sequences such as %0d%0a or \r\n, which are then processed by the db.php script. When the application constructs HTTP headers using this unvalidated input, the injected sequences can cause the server to append additional headers or modify existing ones, potentially enabling session hijacking, cache poisoning, or cross-site scripting attacks. The impact extends beyond simple header injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks like HTTP response splitting, where attackers can inject multiple HTTP responses into a single response, allowing them to bypass security controls and inject malicious content. This vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3686 is significant for websites utilizing the affected plugin, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to manipulate HTTP headers and potentially execute malicious code. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject malicious JavaScript into web pages. The vulnerability affects web applications built on platforms that use the Unobtrusive Ajax Star Rating Bar plugin, particularly those running on php-based content management systems or web applications that do not properly validate user-supplied HTTP headers. This flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering, where attackers craft malicious links that, when clicked, trigger the vulnerability. The vulnerability's persistence in older versions of the plugin highlights the importance of keeping third-party components updated and maintaining robust input validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3686 require immediate action to upgrade the Unobtrusive Ajax Star Rating Bar plugin to version 1.2.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, particularly for HTTP headers, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being processed or included in HTTP responses. Network administrators should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block CRLF injection attempts, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other third-party components. The remediation process should include thorough code review of HTTP header processing functions, implementation of proper output encoding, and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent injection vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should establish patch management procedures to ensure timely updates of all web application components and maintain security monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against header injection attacks.