CVE-2007-5426 in ActiveKB NX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ActiveKB NX 2.5.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter to the default URI for some directories, as demonstrated by (1) ActiveKB/ and (2) default/categories/ActiveKB/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5426 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within ActiveKB NX 2.5.4, a knowledge base management system that was widely deployed in enterprise environments for content management and documentation storage. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input through the page parameter, which is processed through the default URI paths for specific directories including ActiveKB/ and default/categories/ActiveKB/. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability manifests due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's core processing logic, where user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into dynamically generated web content without proper security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the typical pattern of reflected cross-site scripting attacks as classified under CWE-79, where malicious input is reflected back to users through the application's response without adequate encoding or sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The specific URI paths mentioned in the vulnerability description indicate that the flaw exists in the application's default directory handling logic, where the page parameter is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web responses. This creates a persistent attack vector that can be exploited across multiple directory structures within the application's navigation hierarchy.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5426 extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a fundamental security weakness that can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing with Social Engineering) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) where attackers can establish initial access through phishing campaigns that direct users to malicious URLs containing the XSS payload. The vulnerability can facilitate session hijacking attacks where attackers steal authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to privileged content within the knowledge base system. Additionally, the flaw can enable data exfiltration attacks where sensitive information stored within the ActiveKB system becomes accessible to unauthorized parties, particularly concerning corporate documentation and intellectual property.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of security controls to address both immediate remediation needs and long-term prevention measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied parameters before processing, with particular attention to the page parameter handling within directory structures. The application should employ context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for web content and JavaScript escaping for dynamic script generation. Security patches and updates should be applied immediately to address the root cause, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering malicious payloads. Access controls and session management should be reviewed to ensure that even if exploitation occurs, the attack scope remains limited. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, with particular focus on input handling mechanisms across the entire application stack. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and adherence to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines to prevent similar flaws in future development cycles.