CVE-2007-5051 in PhpGedView
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PhpGedView 4.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) box_width, (2) PEDIGREE_GENERATIONS, and (3) rootid parameters in ancestry.php, and the (4) newpid parameter in timeline.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5051 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting PhpGedView version 4.1.1, a widely used web-based genealogy application that facilitates the creation and sharing of family trees online. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within specific php files, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of users' browsers. The affected parameters include box_width and PEDIGREE_GENERATIONS in ancestry.php, rootid in the same file, and newpid in timeline.php, demonstrating that the flaw spans multiple functional components of the genealogy management system. The vulnerability's classification as a CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) weakness indicates that the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input data before incorporating it into dynamic web content, directly violating secure coding practices and creating a persistent security risk for all users interacting with the application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the specified parameters through HTTP requests to the vulnerable PhpGedView application, allowing them to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users. This injection typically occurs because the application does not adequately filter or escape user input before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where attackers can craft payloads that persist in the application's output. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as these XSS vulnerabilities can potentially enable session hijacking, defacement of genealogical records, or redirection to malicious sites, particularly concerning when dealing with genealogical data that may contain sensitive personal information. The attack vectors are particularly dangerous because genealogical applications often store detailed personal information including names, dates, locations, and family relationships, making the potential for data exfiltration or user manipulation more severe than typical web application vulnerabilities.
The operational consequences of CVE-2007-5051 are significant for organizations and individuals using PhpGedView, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or access to the system itself. Attackers can leverage these flaws to compromise user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or manipulate genealogical data displayed to other users, potentially leading to identity theft or privacy violations. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple files within the application architecture suggests a systemic issue in input validation rather than isolated code problems, indicating that the entire application requires comprehensive security auditing. Organizations relying on genealogical data management systems face particular risks since family trees often contain sensitive information that could be exploited for social engineering attacks or identity fraud. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1531 (Credential Access) and T1566 (Phishing) demonstrates its potential for broader exploitation beyond simple XSS execution, as attackers can use the compromised application to harvest user credentials or redirect users to malicious sites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5051 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all user-supplied parameters within the affected PhpGedView application. The most effective immediate solution involves patching the application to version 4.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement proper parameter sanitization techniques, including the use of whitelisting for valid input values and escaping of all dynamic content before rendering in web pages. The application should employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection, while also implementing proper session management and authentication mechanisms to reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as the presence of one XSS vulnerability often indicates potential for additional security weaknesses within the codebase. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or visiting untrusted genealogical websites can help reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation through social engineering approaches.