CVE-2007-6135 in phpslideshow
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phpslideshow.php in PHPSlideShow 0.9.9.2, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the directory parameter. NOTE: this issue was originally reported for toonchapter8.php, but this is probably a site-specific name, since the PHPSlideShow distribution does not contain that file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6135 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the PHPSlideShow 0.9.9.2 web application, classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This security weakness exists in the phpslideshow.php script where user-supplied input from the directory parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected web page, making it a significant concern for web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the directory parameter value. When the vulnerable application processes this input and renders it directly into the HTML output without proper encoding or validation, the injected script code becomes part of the web page content. This creates a persistent XSS vector where any user who accesses the affected page will execute the attacker's malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically affects the phpslideshow.php component of PHPSlideShow, though the issue may extend to earlier versions of the software distribution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the web application environment. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, this vulnerability represents a common entry point for attackers seeking to compromise web applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially access sensitive user data, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user authentication or session management is involved. The fact that the vulnerability was initially reported for a file named toonchapter8.php but later determined to be a site-specific variation indicates that the core issue lies in the PHPSlideShow codebase itself rather than a specific implementation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6135 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation routines that reject or encode potentially dangerous characters before they are processed by the application. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider updating to newer versions of PHPSlideShow that have addressed this vulnerability, as the affected version 0.9.9.2 is likely to contain other security weaknesses. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the web application infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards to prevent such persistent threats in web applications.