CVE-2007-4541 in Olatedownload
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Olate Download (od) 3.4.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the PHP_SELF variable in modules/core/uim.php and (2) [url] tags in a comment in modules/core/fldm.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2017
The CVE-2007-4541 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Olate Download version 3.4.2, a content management system that has been widely deployed in web environments. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that collectively expose the application to remote code execution through malicious script injection. The flaw resides in the application's handling of user input within core modules, specifically targeting the PHP_SELF variable in uim.php and the processing of [url] tags within comment functionality in fldm.php. These vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects core application functionality that handles both system-level variables and user-generated content, creating multiple pathways for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms. When the PHP_SELF variable is processed in modules/core/uim.php, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. Similarly, the comment processing functionality in modules/core/fldm.php does not adequately filter or encode [url] tags that may contain malicious JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or authentication. The attack requires minimal user interaction since the malicious code executes automatically when other users view the affected pages, making it a prime target for mass exploitation campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4541 is substantial and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of the affected website. The XSS vulnerability allows attackers to steal cookies and session tokens, potentially enabling them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. Additionally, the injected scripts can redirect users to malicious websites, download malware, or modify content on the affected site. The vulnerability's presence in core modules means that it affects the entire application's functionality rather than isolated components, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript), as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious JavaScript code and establish persistent access. The impact extends beyond immediate security breaches to include potential compliance violations, reputational damage, and financial losses due to data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4541 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures across all affected application modules. The primary defense involves implementing strict input sanitization for all variables, particularly the PHP_SELF parameter, and ensuring proper HTML entity encoding for user-generated content before rendering. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, with a focus on preventing improper handling of user input in core modules. The vulnerability's age necessitates immediate patching or upgrade to a secure version of Olate Download, as the original application is no longer supported and likely contains additional undiscovered vulnerabilities. Security teams should also implement monitoring systems to detect suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle XSS-related security breaches. Organizations must also consider implementing proper security training for developers to prevent similar input validation flaws in future application development cycles, aligning with secure coding practices recommended by OWASP and NIST guidelines.