CVE-2007-4081 in Affiliate Network Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors in (a) merchants/index.php, including the (1) id or (2) msg parameter in a programedit action; the (3) pgmid parameter in an uploadProducts action; the (4) d, (5) m, or (6) y parameter in a daily action; the (7) err parameter in a ProgramReport action; the (8) i, (9) txtto, (10) txtfrom, or (11) programs parameter in a LinkReport action; or the (12) msg parameter in an add_money action; and one vector in (b) merchants/temp.php using (13) the rowid parameter. NOTE: vector 7 might overlap CVE-2005-3795.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The CVE-2007-4081 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw in AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro version, exposing multiple attack vectors that allow remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or sanitization. The affected application operates within the affiliate marketing domain, making it particularly concerning as it could enable attackers to manipulate affiliate program data and potentially compromise user sessions or steal sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans across multiple file endpoints within the application's merchant interface, with specific parameters in different actions being susceptible to injection attacks. The primary attack vectors include the id and msg parameters in the programedit action within merchants/index.php, where user-supplied input is directly reflected in the application's output without proper encoding or validation. Additionally, the pgmid parameter in the uploadProducts action, and the d, m, or y parameters in the daily action present further opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code. The vulnerability extends to the ProgramReport action where the err parameter, as well as multiple parameters in the LinkReport action including i, txtto, txtfrom, and programs, all represent potential injection points. The add_money action also contains a vulnerable msg parameter, while merchants/temp.php contains a final vector through the rowid parameter, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of this flaw across the application's functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious sites, or manipulate affiliate program data. The nature of the application being an affiliate network means that successful exploitation could lead to financial fraud, unauthorized commission claims, or the dissemination of malicious content to thousands of users. Attackers could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities to inject malicious JavaScript that would execute in the context of authenticated users, allowing them to access sensitive affiliate data, modify program configurations, or even gain administrative privileges. The overlapping nature of the vulnerability with CVE-2005-3795 suggests this represents a persistent flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms, indicating inadequate security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied parameters. The application should employ strict parameter validation for all inputs, particularly those used in dynamic URL construction or database queries, ensuring that all data is properly sanitized before being reflected in web responses. Implementing the principle of least privilege and using proper context-specific encoding for different output contexts would significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, the application should implement proper content security policies and utilize web application firewalls to detect and prevent injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of addressing input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, as recommended by the mitre attack framework which emphasizes the need for defensive programming practices. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns that could lead to additional vulnerabilities in the system's codebase.