CVE-2009-3303 in GForge
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in www/help/tracker.php in GForge 4.5.14, 4.7 rc2, and 4.8.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the helpname parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3303 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GForge collaborative development platform version 4.5.14, 4.7 rc2, and 4.8.1. This vulnerability exists in the help/tracker.php component where user-supplied input is inadequately sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The specific parameter affected is helpname which accepts unvalidated user input that gets directly embedded into the page output without proper HTML escaping or encoding mechanisms.
This XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across the entire user base of the affected GForge installation. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it affects core help functionality that users frequently access, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface web interfaces, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to phishing sites. When users navigate to help pages that contain malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially allowing attackers to access session cookies, modify page content, or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple GForge versions indicates a systemic security issue that affects organizations relying on these collaborative platforms for software development and project management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through comprehensive validation and encoding before rendering any content in web pages. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and employ proper HTML escaping techniques for all dynamic content. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where GForge platforms are used for sensitive development work. The remediation process requires immediate patching of affected GForge versions or implementation of custom input sanitization measures to prevent exploitation of this persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability.