CVE-2009-0533 in EZ Reminder
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in password.php in Scripts for Sites EZ Reminder allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, possibly involving the u2 parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0533 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the password.php component of Scripts for Sites EZ Reminder web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection attacks and is classified as CWE-79 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw specifically affects the authentication and password reset functionality of the application, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability appears to stem from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the password.php script. While the exact vector remains unspecified in the original description, the mention of the u2 parameter suggests that user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being processed or rendered back to the user. This parameter likely serves as an identifier or token within the password reset workflow, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that will execute in the victim's browser when the affected page is loaded.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker could potentially leverage this XSS flaw to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, such as changing passwords, accessing sensitive information, or redirecting users to malicious websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists within a password reset mechanism, which typically operates with elevated privileges and access to sensitive user data. This could enable attackers to escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to user accounts within the application.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through credential access. The weakness creates opportunities for attackers to maintain access to compromised systems through session manipulation or credential theft. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and context-aware sanitization of all user-supplied data. The remediation process requires developers to sanitize all parameters including the u2 parameter mentioned in the description, implement Content Security Policy headers, and ensure that any dynamic content generated from user input undergoes strict validation before rendering in the browser. Additionally, regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the application.