CVE-2009-3328 in WX-Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sign.php in WX-Guestbook 1.1.208 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sName parameter (aka the name field). NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2009-3328 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the WX-Guestbook 1.1.208 web application, specifically affecting the sign.php component. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the sName parameter, which corresponds to the name field in the guestbook submission form. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers who visit the compromised guestbook page. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input containing script code through the sName parameter during guestbook entry submission. When the vulnerable application processes this input without proper sanitization or encoding, the malicious script becomes embedded within the guestbook page's HTML output. Subsequently, when other users browse the guestbook, their browsers execute the injected script code within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the legitimate functionality of the guestbook application itself, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised web application. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, deface the guestbook content, or even establish persistent backdoors through the execution of malicious scripts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 "Account Access Token Manipulation" and T1071.001 "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols" as it enables attackers to manipulate web application behavior and access user sessions. The vulnerability also represents a significant threat to user privacy and application integrity, as it allows attackers to compromise the trust relationship between the guestbook application and its users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3328 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to a newer version of WX-Guestbook that addresses this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and conducting regular security code reviews can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input sanitization practices and demonstrates how even seemingly benign web applications can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this specific vulnerability pattern.