CVE-2007-5478 in Stringbeans Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in projects in Nabh Stringbeans Portal (sbportal) 3.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the project_name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The CVE-2007-5478 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Nabh Stringbeans Portal version 3.2 web application. This vulnerability specifically affects the project management functionality of the portal, creating a security risk that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests through the project_name parameter, which serves as an entry point for attackers to inject malicious content into the application's input handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the portal's project creation and management features. When users submit project names through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected project entries. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious code is reflected back to users through the application's response handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the portal environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the portal interface, or even escalate privileges if the portal has user authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability particularly affects users who have access to project management features, as they become potential targets for session hijacking attacks. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on the portal for collaborative project management, as the compromised user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive project data and resources.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers Scripting through web portals, demonstrating how attackers can exploit web application interfaces to execute malicious code. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures including proper HTML escaping, output encoding, and content security policy implementation. The recommended mitigations include sanitizing all user inputs, implementing strict input validation rules, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices and implement proper parameter validation to prevent similar issues in future application versions, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly handled before being rendered in web responses.