CVE-2009-2041 in activeCollab
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in A51 D.O.O. activeCollab 0.7.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-1772.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2018
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2041 affects activeCollab version 0.7.1 developed by A51 D.O.O., representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions. This vulnerability specifically manifests as a client-side code injection issue that occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. Unlike CVE-2009-1772 which addressed different attack vectors, this particular flaw operates through unspecified input channels that remain unenumerated in the initial vulnerability report, suggesting potential multiple entry points for exploitation. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without adequate sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the application's user interface and potentially execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. When exploited, the XSS flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, modify page content, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that activeCollab is a collaborative project management platform where users frequently interact with the system, making the potential for widespread exploitation significant. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can leverage it without requiring local system access or physical presence, enabling large-scale attacks against users within the application's user base. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to privilege escalation scenarios when combined with other security weaknesses in the application stack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2041 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Security teams must ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, implementing context-specific encoding for different data types such as HTML, JavaScript, and URL parameters. The recommended approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation techniques for web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of input validation and output encoding as primary defense mechanisms. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of implementing comprehensive security testing procedures including automated scanning and manual penetration testing to identify potential XSS vectors that may not be immediately apparent during initial development phases.