CVE-2009-2391 in Virtue Online Test Generator
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in text.php in Virtuenetz Virtue Online Test Generator allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the tid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2391 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Virtue Online Test Generator application developed by Virtuenetz. This security weakness resides in the text.php script and specifically targets the tid parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a prime example of how user-supplied data can be exploited to compromise web application integrity.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the tid parameter of the text.php endpoint. When a victim navigates to this crafted link, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web page context. This allows the injected malicious script to execute in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output encoding practices, where the application trustingly processes user input without adequate security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session manipulation and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user cookies, redirect victims to phishing sites, or even modify the application's behavior through malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application, as it can be used to compromise user data, manipulate application functionality, and potentially serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to attack techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1531 for "Account Access Removal" and T1566 for "Phishing" when used for credential theft.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2391 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly the tid parameter in this case, by implementing proper HTML escaping before rendering content. Developers should employ context-specific encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts and utilize secure coding practices that prevent direct injection of user data into web pages. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security code reviews, input validation testing, and adherence to secure coding standards such as those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CERT Secure Coding Standards should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles. The application should also implement proper error handling that does not expose internal implementation details to end users, as this information can aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated attacks.