CVE-2009-0424 in AN Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sign1.php in AN Guestbook (ANG) before 0.7.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the country parameter, which is not properly handled in (1) administrator/manage.php or (2) administrator/trash.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in AN Guestbook version 0.7.6 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected web applications. The vulnerability specifically targets the sign1.php script where the country parameter fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. When user-supplied data from the country field is processed and subsequently rendered in the administrator/manage.php and administrator/trash.php pages without adequate sanitization, it creates an exploitable XSS vector that can be leveraged by attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the country parameter in the sign1.php script, which then gets reflected in the administrative interfaces without proper security controls. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can execute in the browsers of administrators or other users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and inadequate output encoding, which are fundamental security weaknesses that align with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The flaw represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector where malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization, making it particularly dangerous in administrative contexts where privileged users may be exposed to the malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise the administrative interface of the guestbook system. Attackers could potentially steal administrative sessions, modify guestbook entries, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application, as it allows unauthorized access to administrative functions that should be protected. The fact that the vulnerability impacts multiple administrative pages including manage.php and trash.php amplifies the potential damage, as it provides multiple entry points for attackers to exploit. This vulnerability also represents a serious concern from a compliance standpoint, as it violates security best practices for web application development and could result in data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the guestbook system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those that are reflected in web pages, and applying proper HTML encoding to prevent script execution. Developers should implement a whitelist approach for validating the country parameter, ensuring that only expected values are accepted. Additionally, the application should employ proper output encoding when displaying user-supplied data in administrative interfaces. The solution should align with security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework techniques related to command injection and XSS prevention. Regular security testing and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, and the system should be updated to version 0.7.7 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks.