CVE-2009-2947 in Omega
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Xapian Omega before 1.0.16 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified CGI parameter values, which are sometimes included in exception messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2947 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Xapian Omega search interface software. This issue affects versions prior to 1.0.16 and demonstrates how improperly handled user input can create security risks that allow remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when CGI parameter values are processed and subsequently included in exception messages without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation and output encoding practices employed by the Xapian Omega software. When the system encounters malformed or unexpected input through CGI parameters, it generates exception messages that directly incorporate these unvalidated inputs into the response. This behavior creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the application, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the resulting error pages or search results. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. When users encounter error messages containing attacker-controlled script code, the malicious JavaScript executes within their browser context, potentially compromising their security and privacy. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through normal search functionality, making it accessible to anyone who interacts with the affected system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should ensure that all user-provided data is properly sanitized before being included in any response, particularly within error messages or exception handling routines. The most effective approach involves applying context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for content displayed in web pages, and implementing strict input validation that rejects or removes potentially dangerous characters. Additionally, upgrading to Xapian Omega version 1.0.16 or later resolves this vulnerability by incorporating proper input sanitization and output encoding measures. Security practitioners should also consider implementing content security policies to provide additional protection against script injection attacks, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's techniques for command and control through web scripting.