CVE-2009-0105 in EZpack
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in EZpack 4.2b2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the mdfd parameter in a prog action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0105 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the EZpack 4.2b2 web application framework. This issue specifically affects the index.php file and manifests when processing the mdfd parameter during a prog action. The 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 flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users interact with web applications containing sensitive data.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper input validation and output encoding within the EZpack application's processing pipeline. When the mdfd parameter is passed through the prog action without adequate sanitization, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into the HTML response. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to users through the application's response rather than being stored permanently. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through social engineering techniques, where attackers craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by victims, execute the injected code in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers could craft payloads that steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users, effectively impersonating them within the application. The vulnerability also poses risks to data integrity and confidentiality, as malicious scripts could modify displayed content, redirect users to phishing sites, or capture user input. Given that EZpack is a web-based application framework, this vulnerability could affect organizations using it for various business processes, potentially compromising sensitive business data or customer information. The reflected nature of the attack means that victims must be tricked into clicking malicious links, but once executed, the impact can be severe and persistent across multiple user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like mdfd that are processed without adequate validation. Applications should employ strict input filtering to remove or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting this type of vulnerability. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in the application's architecture. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all input parameters are properly validated and that appropriate encoding mechanisms are in place to prevent similar XSS vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application.