CVE-2007-5990 in ExoPHPdesk
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ExoPHPdesk allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors in a user profile, possibly the (1) name and (2) website parameters to register.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5990 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ExoPHPdesk application, a web-based help desk system that was widely used for managing technical support requests. This security weakness resides in the user registration process where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability specifically affects the register.php script and impacts two primary parameters within user profiles: the name field and the website field, making it particularly dangerous as these are common fields that users frequently populate with personal information and links to their websites or social media profiles. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization practices within the ExoPHPdesk codebase. When users submit their profile information through the registration form, the application does not properly escape or encode special characters in the name and website parameters before storing or displaying them. This failure creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected profile pages. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and more broadly under CWE-20 which covers improper input validation. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even novice attackers who can simply craft malicious payloads and distribute them through the registration process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it fundamentally compromises the security of the entire help desk environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to sensitive user information, manipulate the help desk interface, or redirect users to malicious websites designed to harvest credentials or install malware. The attack could be particularly devastating in corporate environments where help desk systems often contain confidential information about employees, clients, or internal processes. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat as the malicious code remains embedded in user profiles and continues to execute whenever the affected pages are accessed. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access Through Capture, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts through session manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5990 should prioritize immediate patching of the ExoPHPdesk application, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that strips or encodes special characters in all user-supplied data, particularly in fields that are later rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Regular security auditing of web applications should include thorough testing for XSS vulnerabilities, particularly in areas where user input is processed and displayed. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block common XSS attack patterns, while maintaining proper logging and monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, principles that remain fundamental to preventing XSS attacks across all modern web platforms.