CVE-2009-2448 in Online Guestbook Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ogp_show.php in Online Guestbook Pro 5.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_choice parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2448 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Online Guestbook Pro 5.1 web application. This security weakness specifically manifests in the ogp_show.php script where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability occurs when attackers exploit the search_choice parameter, which serves as an entry point for injecting malicious scripts or HTML code into the application's response. Such injection allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a condition where an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This particular flaw falls under the category of reflected XSS attacks where malicious input is immediately reflected back to users through the vulnerable application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites. When a user clicks on a malicious link containing the crafted payload, the injected script executes in their browser, potentially leading to unauthorized access to guestbook entries, user credentials, or other sensitive data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking a malicious link, making it an effective method for widespread exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in a guestbook application is especially problematic since such systems often contain personal information, comments, and potentially sensitive exchanges between users. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker crafting a malicious URL with the XSS payload in the search_choice parameter and distributing it through social engineering, spam emails, or compromised websites to entice users into clicking the link.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the broader ATT&CK framework, specifically under the technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and T1531 for implantation of malicious code. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate application behavior through crafted inputs. Organizations using Online Guestbook Pro 5.1 should immediately implement input sanitization measures, including proper HTML escaping of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict parameter validation, employing content security policies, and ensuring that all user inputs undergo proper encoding before being processed or displayed. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version that addresses this vulnerability, as the vendor may have released patches or newer versions with improved input handling mechanisms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, which remain one of the most prevalent web application security flaws according to OWASP top ten.