CVE-2009-2919 in Orca
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Boonex Orca 2.0 and 2.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the topic title field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2018
The CVE-2009-2919 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Boonex Orca version 2.0 and 2.0.2 content management systems. This vulnerability resides within the topic title field processing mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw specifically affects authenticated users who possess the ability to create or modify topics within the system, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate user privileges to deliver malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the topic title handling components of the Boonex Orca platform. When users submit topic titles containing malicious script code, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in web pages. This inadequate sanitization process creates an environment where attackers can inject javascript code, html tags, or other malicious content that executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected topic titles. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS attack vector where the malicious payload is immediately executed upon page rendering without requiring persistent storage of the malicious content within the application's database.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2919 extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require administrative privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly concerning for community-driven platforms where user-generated content is prevalent. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the issue of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can lead to session hijacking and privilege escalation attacks. The flaw also aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense including immediate input sanitization, output encoding, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers. Organizations should implement strict validation of all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered in web contexts, and ensure proper HTML entity encoding of dynamic content before display. The recommended approach includes employing whitelist-based input validation techniques, implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious payloads. Additionally, the platform should enforce proper access controls and implement regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other input fields. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious scripts through web interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future software development cycles, as this flaw represents a common oversight in web application security implementations.