CVE-2007-5161 in Feedreader
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-zone scripting vulnerability in the internal browser in i-Systems Feedreader 3.10 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an item in a feed, as demonstrated by a WordPress blog update. NOTE: this was originally reported as XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5161 represents a critical cross-zone scripting flaw within the internal browser component of i-Systems Feedreader version 3.10. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious content embedded within feed items. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to safely render content from external sources, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of the application's internal browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the feedreader processes content from external feeds without sufficient sanitization measures. When a malicious feed item contains embedded script tags or HTML elements, the internal browser component fails to properly escape or filter these elements before rendering them to the user interface. This cross-zone scripting behavior allows attackers to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges and permissions of the feedreader application, potentially compromising the user's system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the feedreader application and external content sources, making it difficult for users to detect malicious activity.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5161 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and persistent compromise of affected systems. When attackers exploit this vulnerability through a WordPress blog update or similar legitimate feed source, they can establish a foothold within the user's environment and potentially escalate privileges. The attack surface is amplified by the widespread use of feedreaders and the trust users place in content from established sources like WordPress blogs, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios where users frequently consume content from multiple sources.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaws in software applications. The classification reflects the fundamental security weakness in input validation and output encoding practices that fail to properly handle potentially malicious content. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through web-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates how insecure data handling practices in web applications can be exploited to bypass security controls and establish persistent access to target systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and content sanitization measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5161 should include immediate patching of affected feedreader versions, implementation of strict content filtering mechanisms, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and block malicious script injection attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of feedreader applications and other content aggregation tools are essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.