CVE-2007-5950 in NetCommons
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NetCommons before 1.0.11, and 1.1.x before 1.1.2, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-4165.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5950 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NetCommons content management system that affected versions prior to 1.0.11 and 1.1.x prior to 1.1.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The issue allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited for various malicious purposes including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Unlike CVE-2006-4165 which addressed a different XSS vector, this vulnerability represents a distinct attack path that was not covered by previous patches, indicating a gap in the security testing and code review processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the NetCommons platform, suggesting that the flaw exists in multiple areas of the application's input handling mechanisms. This could include form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data inputs that are not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The absence of specific vector details in the CVE description indicates that the vulnerability may have been widespread across different components of the system, making it particularly dangerous as attackers could potentially find multiple entry points for exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack means that no local access or authentication is required, making it easily exploitable by anyone with access to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. When users view infected pages, their browsers execute the malicious scripts, which can capture cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability can be leveraged for credential theft, data exfiltration, and establishing persistent access to the compromised system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that NetCommons is a web-based content management platform, meaning that any user with access to the system could potentially be targeted by these attacks, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on this technology.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive patch management procedures to upgrade to versions 1.0.11 or 1.1.2 and later, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to address the XSS flaws. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be prioritized, following the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. The mitigation strategy should include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and conducting thorough security testing of all user-input handling components. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing and the potential for multiple attack vectors within a single platform. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment', highlighting the potential for both automated exploitation and social engineering attacks that could leverage this weakness.