CVE-2007-4917 in PHP-Stats
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in tracking.php in PHP-Stats 0.1.9.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ip parameter in an online action, a different vector than CVE-2007-4334.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4917 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the PHP-Stats 0.1.9.2 web application tracking component. This security weakness specifically affects the tracking.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the ip parameter is passed through an online action, creating an injection point that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. Unlike similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2007-4334, this particular flaw operates through a distinct attack vector that targets the ip parameter specifically, making it a unique variant within the broader class of XSS vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the PHP-Stats application framework. When the tracking.php script processes the ip parameter without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms, it fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially malicious script code. This lack of proper input sanitization creates a persistent XSS condition where attacker-controlled data flows directly into the web application's output stream. The vulnerability operates at the presentation layer, where the application's failure to escape special characters in the ip parameter allows script execution contexts to be established in the victim's browser environment, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4917 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points through session manipulation, steal sensitive cookies, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the application context. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functions. Given that this vulnerability exists in a tracking application, it could enable attackers to monitor user activities, gather intelligence about system usage patterns, or exploit the tracking functionality to manipulate application behavior. The cross-site scripting nature of the flaw means that the attack can be executed through various vectors including web pages, email links, or even through compromised web applications that interact with the vulnerable PHP-Stats instance.
Security mitigations for CVE-2007-4917 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly the ip parameter, through proper HTML entity encoding before rendering any content back to users. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attempts by restricting script sources and preventing execution of unauthorized code. Regular security code reviews and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Patch management procedures must be established to ensure timely application of security updates and fixes to vulnerable software versions, as this particular vulnerability affects an older release of PHP-Stats that should no longer be in production use.