CVE-2007-4102 in sBlog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php for sBlog 0.7.3 Beta allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via a leading "/></> sequence in the search string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2018
The CVE-2007-4102 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed in the sBlog 0.7.3 Beta content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the search functionality of the application, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input during search operations, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed by unsuspecting victims who view the search results.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the specific injection pattern involving a leading "/></> sequence within the search string parameter. This particular sequence leverages the way web applications parse and render HTML content, particularly when processing user input that gets reflected back to the browser without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications that fail to properly validate and escape user-supplied data. The attack vector specifically aligns with the CWE-74 technique of injecting malicious scripts through input validation bypasses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When a victim visits a page containing the malicious search results, their browser executes the injected JavaScript code within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially allowing attackers to steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to malicious sites. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that do not implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms, making it a significant concern for any system that processes user input through search functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4102 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective approach involves implementing strict input sanitization that filters out potentially malicious sequences before they are processed or stored in the application's database. Additionally, developers should employ output encoding techniques that ensure any user-supplied content is properly escaped when rendered in HTML contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against such injection attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input validation issues that require comprehensive remediation across the entire codebase.