CVE-2009-2778 in GarageSales Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in visitor/view.php in GarageSales Script allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the key parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2778 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GarageSales Script application, specifically in the visitor/view.php component. This weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions, potentially compromising the security of the entire web application ecosystem. The vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of the key parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input injection.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the GarageSales Script's visitor/view.php file. When the application processes the key parameter without adequate filtering or encoding, it fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially harmful script code. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an exploitable condition where attackers can embed malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who access the vulnerable page. The 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 provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a specially formatted key parameter that, when processed by the vulnerable script, would execute JavaScript code in the victim's browser context. This could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, or the deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in public-facing web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and execution phases. Attackers can leverage this XSS vulnerability as a vector for delivering malicious payloads, potentially using techniques such as phishing campaigns or automated scanning tools to identify vulnerable instances. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to gain unauthorized access to restricted functionalities. Organizations running GarageSales Script or similar applications are advised to implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in real-world scenarios.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security practices and implement multi-layered defenses including web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and employee training on secure coding principles. The remediation approach should focus on validating all user inputs, implementing proper output encoding for web contexts, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns that could introduce XSS vulnerabilities in other parts of the application.