CVE-2007-4080 in E-Friends
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php AlstraSoft E-Friends allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the p_id parameter in a people_card action. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2006-2564.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4080 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the AlstraSoft E-Friends web application, specifically affecting the index.php script when processing the people_card action. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows malicious code injection into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an opening for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the p_id parameter within the people_card action of the index.php script. When a user submits a request containing malicious script code within this parameter, the web application processes the input without adequate validation or sanitization mechanisms. This allows an attacker to inject HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the browser of any user who views the affected page. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the web application interface. The attack vector is typically executed through social engineering techniques where victims are tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531 Account Access Removal, an attacker leveraging this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges or establish persistent access by stealing authentication tokens or session information. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and availability, as unauthorized users can modify content or disrupt normal user operations. Organizations running AlstraSoft E-Friends software are particularly vulnerable since this flaw enables attackers to compromise the trust relationship between the web application and its users, potentially leading to widespread security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing them, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, using proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and implementing input validation that rejects or removes potentially malicious characters. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and ensure that all parameters are properly validated against expected input formats. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input validation across all web application components. The vulnerability also highlights the need for proper error handling and logging mechanisms that can detect and alert on suspicious input patterns.