CVE-2007-3773 in Generic YouTube Clone Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Email-Template module in Generic YouTube Clone Script allows remote attackers to upload files with arbitrary file types to templates/emails/ as administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2017
The CVE-2007-3773 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Email-Template module of the Generic YouTube Clone Script application. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user requests, specifically in the file upload functionality that operates within the administrative context of the web application. The flaw enables malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between authenticated users and the application server, allowing unauthorized file uploads with arbitrary file types to the templates/emails/ directory. The vulnerability exists due to the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms that would normally verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic CSRF attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated administrators. When an administrator visits a compromised webpage or clicks on a malicious link, the attacker can trigger file upload operations without the administrator's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically targets the email template directory structure, which typically contains sensitive configuration files and potentially executable content that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The lack of proper session validation and request origin verification creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the file upload process to place malicious files in the email templates directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, as the targeted directory structure suggests that these files may be executed or processed by the application during email generation or template rendering processes. This creates potential for remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration scenarios where attackers can establish persistence within the application environment. The administrative context of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation would grant attackers elevated privileges within the application, potentially allowing them to modify email templates, inject malicious code, or access sensitive administrative functions. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the application's administrative controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3773 should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms including the deployment of unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session that must be validated on every state-changing request. The application should enforce strict file type validation and content verification before accepting uploads, particularly in administrative directories. Input sanitization and proper access control measures must be implemented to ensure that only authorized users can perform file upload operations in sensitive directories. Additionally, the application should implement proper request origin validation and session management controls. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous file upload activities in administrative directories, as this type of vulnerability often serves as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks within the application ecosystem.