CVE-2009-1067 in Pixie CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Pixie CMS 1.01a allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the x parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1067 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Pixie CMS 1.01a content management system. This issue specifically affects the index.php script which fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has persisted across numerous platforms and frameworks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the x parameter in the index.php script, where remote attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. When the application processes this parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding, the injected code executes within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to Pixie CMS users and administrators. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential account takeovers, defacement of web content, and the ability to establish backdoors within the compromised system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that persistently affect all users accessing the vulnerable pages, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where the CMS serves as a central content management platform. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it accessible from anywhere on the internet.
The remediation approach for CVE-2009-1067 involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Pixie CMS application. This includes sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing them and ensuring that any dynamic content rendered to web pages is properly escaped to prevent script execution. Security best practices dictate that all web applications should employ context-specific output encoding, particularly when dealing with HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and input validation libraries to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of scripting languages for execution, highlighting how such vulnerabilities enable attackers to establish persistent access through malicious code injection. Given the age of this vulnerability and the specific version affected, users should prioritize upgrading to supported versions of Pixie CMS or implementing compensating controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation.