CVE-2009-2327 in KerviNet Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in add_voting.php in KerviNet Forum 1.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the v_variant1 parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2327 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the KerviNet Forum software version 1.1 and earlier. This issue affects the add_voting.php script which processes voting functionality within the forum platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the v_variant1 parameter, which serves as an input field for voting options in the forum's voting system. The flaw enables authenticated users to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers who have gained legitimate access to the forum system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the KerviNet Forum's voting module. When the v_variant1 parameter is processed, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where malicious code can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the injected code is persisted within the application's database and executed whenever other users view the affected voting results. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An authenticated attacker with access to the forum can manipulate voting results and inject malicious payloads that persist across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability can be exploited to redirect users to malicious websites, steal cookies, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems if combined with other attack vectors. This poses significant risks to user privacy and forum integrity, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire user base of the forum. The attack can be categorized under the ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for credential access through social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures within the KerviNet Forum application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered in web contexts, through proper HTML entity encoding before processing. Additionally, developers should implement strict parameter validation to ensure that voting variant parameters contain only expected characters and data types. The forum software should be updated to version 1.2 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses in other parts of the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security controls throughout the entire application development lifecycle, as highlighted in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.