CVE-2009-0796 in Mod Perl
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Status.pm in Apache::Status and Apache2::Status in mod_perl1 and mod_perl2 for the Apache HTTP Server, when /perl-status is accessible, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The CVE-2009-0796 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the mod_perl module's status reporting functionality within the Apache HTTP Server ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects Apache::Status and Apache2::Status components that are part of mod_perl1 and mod_perl2 implementations, creating a significant security risk when the /perl-status endpoint remains accessible to remote attackers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the status page generation logic, which fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it in the web response. The vulnerability exists because the status module directly incorporates URI parameters into the HTML output without sufficient sanitization measures, making it susceptible to malicious input injection attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URI containing script code or HTML content and submits it to the vulnerable /perl-status endpoint. The Apache HTTP Server, processing the request through the mod_perl module, fails to properly sanitize the input parameters before including them in the generated HTML response. This creates an XSS vector where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or arbitrary code execution within the victim's browser environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate administrative endpoints that are often accessible in production environments, making it difficult to detect and mitigate.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-0796 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the entire web application security posture. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation, steal sensitive information from authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate web application but also the underlying server infrastructure, as it can be used to gather information about the server configuration, installed modules, and potentially other system vulnerabilities. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack surface management and incident response planning, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in input validation controls that can facilitate more complex attacks.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with immediate access control measures to restrict access to the /perl-status endpoint to trusted administrative networks only. The recommended remediation includes disabling the perl-status endpoint entirely in production environments where it is not required for legitimate administrative purposes, as specified in the Apache security best practices and aligned with the principle of least privilege. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before inclusion in any web response. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, which aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and can be addressed through techniques that map to ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0002 (Execution) through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of mod_perl status endpoint configurations to ensure that administrative interfaces are not exposed to unauthorized access, as this vulnerability has been classified as a persistent threat vector in numerous security assessments and incident reports.