CVE-2009-0107 in PHPAuctions
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in profile.php in PHPAuctions (aka PHPAuctionSystem) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the user_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0107 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the PHPAuctions web application system, specifically affecting the profile.php script. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security vulnerabilities. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the user_id parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the PHPAuctions platform. When the profile.php script processes the user_id parameter without adequate sanitization, it directly incorporates user-supplied data into the web page response without proper HTML escaping or encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed whenever legitimate users view the affected profile page. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, defacing web pages, or redirecting users to malicious sites, all while appearing to originate from the legitimate application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. Attackers can craft malicious user_id values containing script tags or other malicious code that executes in the victim's browser context. This opens doors to various attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential for more sophisticated attacks such as phishing or malware delivery. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the PHPAuctions system, making it a critical security concern for any organization relying on this platform for online auction activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The primary defense mechanism involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic web content generation, through proper HTML escaping techniques before rendering them in web pages. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious input. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and proper output encoding for all dynamic content to prevent XSS exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive security training and code review processes.