CVE-2009-2162 in PukiWikiMod
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the XOOPS MANIAC PukiWikiMod module 1.6.6.2 and earlier for XOOPS allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2018
The CVE-2009-2162 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the XOOPS MANIAC PukiWikiMod module version 1.6.6.2 and earlier installations. This vulnerability exists within the XOOPS content management framework, which is widely used for building dynamic websites and web applications. The module in question serves as a bridge between XOOPS and PukiWiki, enabling wiki functionality within the XOOPS ecosystem. The vulnerability's presence in this specific module configuration creates a significant security risk for organizations relying on XOOPS for their web infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient input validation mechanism that fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that contain executable scripts or HTML code, which are then injected into the vulnerable module's output. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple entry points within the module's functionality, including but not limited to form submissions, URL parameters, or user-generated content fields. This broad attack surface increases the exploitability of the vulnerability and makes it particularly dangerous for administrators who may not be aware of all potential injection points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, or redirect victims to malicious domains. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence. Organizations utilizing affected XOOPS installations face potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations, particularly in environments where user privacy and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor to manipulate the web application's behavior and compromise user trust in the platform.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching of the affected module to version 1.6.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious data from being executed within the browser context. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and regular security audits of web applications can help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and follows patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The remediation process should also include educating developers about secure coding practices and establishing regular security testing procedures to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.