CVE-2009-3171 in Gazelle CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Anantasoft Gazelle CMS 1.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) user parameter to user.php or (2) lookup parameter to search.php.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The CVE-2009-3171 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Anantasoft Gazelle CMS versions 1.0 and earlier, exposing the platform to multiple cross-site scripting attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within two primary entry points of the application's web interface, specifically the user.php script and search.php script. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted parameters, creating persistent security risks for all users interacting with the vulnerable system. The vulnerability's classification as a cross-site scripting issue indicates that it operates at the application layer, targeting the web browser's trust relationship with the CMS platform, and represents a fundamental failure in proper input handling and output encoding mechanisms.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the same underlying design flaw in the CMS's parameter processing. Attackers can manipulate the user parameter within the user.php script or the lookup parameter in search.php to inject malicious payloads that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and demonstrates the classic pattern where unvalidated user input flows directly into web output without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack mechanism leverages the fact that the CMS fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, creating a persistent threat that can affect any user who views the compromised content or interacts with the vulnerable application interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3171 extends far beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. Successful exploitation could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers, redirect them to phishing sites, or steal authentication cookies that would grant unauthorized access to administrative functions. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the CMS platform, as it enables persistent threats that can compromise the entire user base. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core functionality of the CMS, including user management and search capabilities, which are frequently accessed components that would provide attackers with multiple opportunities for exploitation and persistence within the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls, proper parameter sanitization, and comprehensive code reviews to address similar issues across the application stack. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, as well as establishing robust input validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content. Additionally, the implementation of Content Security Policies and proper session management controls would provide additional layers of protection against exploitation. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to execute malicious scripts that ultimately compromise system integrity. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, including regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and address similar weaknesses in other components of the CMS platform.