CVE-2007-4144 in Form Processor Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sample-forms/simple-contact-form-with-preview/simple-contact-form-with-preview.html in MitriDAT eMail Form Processor Pro allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the base_path parameter, possibly related to (1) formprocessorpro.php in the PHP version of the product, and (2) formprocessorpro.pl in the Perl version of the product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2017
The CVE-2007-4144 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the MitriDAT eMail Form Processor Pro software suite, affecting both PHP and Perl implementations. This vulnerability exists within the sample forms directory, specifically in the simple-contact-form-with-preview.html file, which serves as a demonstration interface for the email form processing functionality. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the base_path parameter through malicious input, thereby injecting arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation in the web application's input handling mechanisms. When the base_path parameter is processed without proper sanitization, the application fails to encode special characters that could otherwise be interpreted as HTML or script tags. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that are subsequently rendered by victim browsers during normal form preview operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and other advanced persistent threats. The issue manifests across multiple versions of the product, indicating a fundamental flaw in the input validation architecture rather than a isolated implementation error.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing MitriDAT eMail Form Processor Pro, as it creates persistent security risks that can affect multiple users simultaneously. Any visitor to a compromised website using the vulnerable form processor could become a victim of the injected malicious code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, data exfiltration, or compromise of user sessions. The vulnerability's presence in both PHP and Perl versions suggests a systemic architectural weakness in the product's approach to input sanitization and output encoding. This cross-platform nature increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations maintaining mixed technology environments.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation at multiple layers, proper HTML encoding of all dynamic content, and regular security audits of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied inputs are properly validated against whitelisted patterns, and that output encoding is applied consistently to prevent interpretation of malicious content as executable code. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regularly updating vulnerable software components can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle.