CVE-2009-2241 in ASP Inline Corporate Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.asp in ASP Inline Corporate Calendar allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keyword parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2241 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ASP Inline Corporate Calendar application's search functionality. This weakness resides in the search.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to web browsers. The specific vector of attack occurs through the keyword parameter which accepts unfiltered user-supplied data, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' sessions.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored or reflected XSS attack depending on how the malicious payload is delivered and processed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets a web application interface that is accessible to external users. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and inject malicious content that executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to create persistent malicious payloads that affect all users interacting with the calendar application. Attackers can craft sophisticated attacks that exploit the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even deface the calendar interface itself. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that malicious scripts are executed immediately when a user clicks on a crafted link, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user interaction with search results.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2241 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and use proper HTML encoding when displaying user content. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious code from being processed as executable content. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this represents a common class of web application security flaws that frequently occur in legacy systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle.