CVE-2009-2937 in Planet
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Planet 2.0 and Planet Venus allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the SRC attribute of an IMG element in a feed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2937 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Planet 2.0 and Planet Venus content management systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of image source attributes within feed content, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code in the context of affected users' browsers. The issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the feed processing pipeline, particularly when parsing the src attribute of img elements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the failure to properly sanitize or escape user-provided content before rendering it within the web interface. When Planet systems process RSS or Atom feeds containing img tags with malicious src attributes, the application does not adequately filter or encode the input data, allowing attackers to embed JavaScript code or other malicious content that executes in the victim's browser context. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental category of web application vulnerabilities that enables XSS attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the feed processing level, meaning that even legitimate feeds from trusted sources could become vectors for attack if they contain malicious content or if an attacker compromises a feed provider.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a feed containing an img tag with a src attribute pointing to a malicious JavaScript payload, which would execute when users view the feed within the Planet application. This creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users simultaneously, especially in environments where Planet is used for aggregating content from multiple sources. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that Planet systems often serve as content aggregators, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise large user bases through a single malicious feed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2937 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the feed processing pipeline. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied content, particularly attributes within img tags and other HTML elements, undergo proper sanitization before being rendered in web pages. This includes implementing strict attribute validation for the src parameter, applying HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content, and utilizing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it addresses the exploitation of information repository systems through injection attacks. Security measures should also include regular updates to Planet software, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious feed content to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of consuming feeds from untrusted sources, and system administrators should implement proper access controls to limit feed submission privileges to trusted entities only.