CVE-2007-6142 in JAF CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ph03y3nk just another flat file (JAF) CMS 4.0 RC2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) show parameter to index.php and the (2) print parameter to print.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6142 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the ph03y3nk just another flat file JAF CMS version 4.0 RC2. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a pervasive security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects two distinct endpoints within the CMS system, creating multiple attack vectors that could be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The affected parameters include the show parameter in index.php and the print parameter in print.php, both of which fail to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web application's output.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code and submits it through either the show or print parameters. When the CMS processes these parameters without adequate validation or sanitization, the injected scripts become part of the dynamic web page content and execute within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where any user who views the affected pages becomes a potential victim of the malicious code execution. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely through standard web browser interactions, requiring no specialized tools or access privileges beyond basic web browsing capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could have significant impact on the affected organization's security posture and user data integrity. The ability for remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts into the CMS system creates potential for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the content management system, potentially compromising all users who interact with the affected web pages. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to the system, harvest sensitive information from user sessions, or use the compromised CMS as a launching point for further attacks against the broader network infrastructure. The long-term operational impact includes potential reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and increased security maintenance overhead.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies across all user-facing parameters within the CMS. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or upgrade to a supported version of the JAF CMS that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Input validation should include strict sanitization of all parameters before processing, with particular attention to the show and print parameters that were identified as vulnerable. Output encoding techniques should be implemented to ensure that any user-supplied content is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. The security architecture should also incorporate Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts within the browser context. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities throughout the web application infrastructure. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against cross-site scripting attacks.