CVE-2007-6489 in Series One CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Falcon Series One CMS 1.4.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) gb_mail, (2) gb_name, and (3) gb_text parameters in a guestbook action to index.php, and unspecified other vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6489 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Falcon Series One CMS version 1.4.3, specifically targeting the guestbook functionality. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's processing of user-submitted data. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly encode or escape user inputs before rendering them in web pages, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject executable scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability affects three primary parameters: gb_mail, gb_name, and gb_text, which are processed through the guestbook action in the index.php file, making these vectors particularly dangerous as they directly interface with user-facing content display mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are typically used for guestbook entries. When attackers submit malicious payloads through these parameters, the CMS processes the inputs without adequate sanitization, allowing script code to persist in the application's database or session storage. Subsequent page views or guestbook displays then execute these malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers 'Modify System Image' through the use of malicious scripts to compromise user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6489 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially administrative capabilities. When users view guestbook entries containing malicious scripts, their browsers execute the embedded code, which can capture session cookies, redirect to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for content management systems that store user-generated content, as it enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within the application environment. The unspecified other vectors mentioned in the description suggest that similar vulnerabilities may exist in other parts of the application, indicating a broader architectural weakness in input handling that requires comprehensive review and remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing or display. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and utilizing parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent injection attacks. Organizations should also implement regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten guidance and NIST Cybersecurity Framework principles, ensuring that input validation is implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture to provide defense-in-depth protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.