CVE-2009-3598 in FormXP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in survey_result.php in eCardMAX FormXP 2007 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2025
The CVE-2009-3598 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the eCardMAX FormXP 2007 web application that specifically targets the survey_result.php script. This vulnerability resides within the parameter handling mechanism where the sid parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The flaw allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this form processing solution.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines the classic cross-site scripting weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector specifically exploits the lack of input sanitization in the sid parameter, which is likely used to identify specific survey responses or sessions. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the sid parameter and convinces a victim to click it, the script executes in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices where dynamic content generation does not implement proper output encoding or validation controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable sophisticated attack chains within the targeted organization's network environment. An attacker could leverage this flaw to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that appears to originate from the legitimate web application. This creates a trust relationship compromise where users are unaware they are executing malicious code. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the web application's user interface and can lead to persistent XSS attacks if the malicious content is stored and later served to multiple users. Organizations using this software face potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations under various regulatory frameworks including pci dss and gdpr.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters including the sid parameter through proper HTML encoding before rendering any content. Organizations should implement content security policies that restrict script execution and employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include updating the affected software version or applying vendor-provided patches as recommended by the software vendor. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the owasp top ten and demonstrates how basic input validation failures can create significant security risks. Organizations should also implement proper security awareness training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.