CVE-2009-0710 in PHPFootball
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PHPFootball 1.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the user parameter to login.php or (2) the dbfield parameter to filter.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0710 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting PHPFootball version 1.6, a web-based football management application. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious web script injection, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components, specifically targeting two distinct entry points that handle user authentication and data filtering operations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit it without requiring local system access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user-supplied input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that demonstrate poor input handling practices. The first vector involves the user parameter in login.php, where unfiltered user input is directly incorporated into the application's response without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts during the authentication process. The second vector targets the dbfield parameter in filter.php, where database field names are processed without adequate validation, enabling attackers to manipulate query parameters through crafted input. Both attack surfaces represent classic XSS vulnerabilities that fall under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. These vulnerabilities align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in the context of a user's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative access. Attackers could leverage these XSS flaws to steal user cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, or inject persistent malicious scripts that execute whenever users access the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's presence in a football management application raises particular concerns as it may contain sensitive user information, team data, and administrative controls that could be compromised. The lack of verified information about the vulnerability's origin and the reliance on third-party reporting suggests that this issue may have been discovered through security research rather than formal vulnerability disclosure processes, highlighting the importance of proper security testing and input validation in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation filters that reject or escape potentially malicious content before processing. Additionally, implementing proper context-aware output encoding in all response generation functions will prevent malicious scripts from executing in the browser context. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution sources and the adoption of parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection alongside XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding. Regular patch management and vulnerability scanning processes are essential to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in other application components.