CVE-2007-4588 in SiteWorx
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in InterWorx Hosting Control Panel (InterWorx-CP) Server Admin Level (NodeWorx) 3.0.2 (1) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to index.php; and allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (2) nodeworx.php, (3) users.php, (4) lang.php, (5) themes.php, (6) setup.php, (7) siteworx.php, (8) packages.php, (9) backup.php, (10) import.php, (11) scriptworx.php, (12) resellers.php, (13) reseller-packages.php, (14) http.php, (15) mail.php, (16) ftp.php, (17) mysql.php, (18) sshd.php, (19) nfs.php, (20) cron.php, (21) ip.php, (22) firewall.php, (23) updates.php, (24) rrd.php, or (25) cluster.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4588 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the InterWorx Hosting Control Panel version 3.0.2, specifically within the NodeWorx administrative interface. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization of PATH_INFO parameters that are passed to multiple PHP scripts within the control panel. The flaw exists at the application level where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate filtering or encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability impacts a comprehensive list of 25 distinct administrative scripts, indicating a systemic design flaw rather than isolated code issues, which significantly amplifies the potential attack surface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers leverage the PATH_INFO parameter to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response. PATH_INFO is a server variable that contains additional path information following the script name in a URL, and when improperly handled, it becomes a conduit for XSS attacks. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or JavaScript code within the PATH_INFO portion, which gets executed when the affected scripts process these parameters. The authentication requirements vary between the two attack vectors, with one requiring only remote access and another necessitating authenticated user access, but both scenarios present severe security implications. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Cross-site Scripting" and specifically manifests as reflected XSS where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the hosting environment. When authenticated users access the vulnerable scripts, attackers can exploit the XSS to steal session cookies, modify user permissions, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations. The presence of multiple vulnerable endpoints means that attackers can target different administrative functions within the control panel, potentially compromising the entire hosting infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model of the hosting control panel, as it allows unauthorized code execution in the context of legitimate administrative users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all affected scripts within the InterWorx-CP system. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly PATH_INFO parameters, by implementing proper HTML entity encoding before any output is generated. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit exposure, as well as conducting regular security audits of web applications to identify similar input validation flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and the need for consistent security controls throughout the application lifecycle, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566 for Phishing, which are commonly used in exploiting such vulnerabilities. Regular patching and updates of the hosting control panel software are essential to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities, and system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of XSS vulnerabilities.