CVE-2009-3803 in Amiro.CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Amiro.CMS 5.4.0.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the status_message parameter to (1) /news, (2) /comment, (3) /forum, (4) /blog, and (5) /tags; the status_message parameter to (6) forum.php, (7) discussion.php, (8) guestbook.php, (9) blog.php, (10) news.php, (11) srv_updates.php, (12) srv_backups.php, (13) srv_twist_prevention.php, (14) srv_tags.php, (15) srv_tags_reindex.php, (16) google_sitemap.php, (17) sitemap_history.php, (18) srv_options.php, (19) locales.php and (20) plugins_wizard.php in _admin/; a crafted IMG BBcode tag in the message body of a (21) forum, (22) guestbook, or (23) comment; (24) the content of an avatar file, which is not properly handled by Internet Explorer; and (25) the loginname parameter (aka username) in _admin/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3803 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Amiro.CMS versions 5.4.0.0 and earlier, demonstrating a classic input validation weakness that enables remote code execution through web browser manipulation. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-provided input parameters across multiple administrative and user-facing endpoints within the content management system. The flaw specifically targets the status_message parameter which is processed in numerous locations throughout the application's interface, including news, comment, forum, blog, and tags modules, as well as various administrative scripts under the _admin directory. The vulnerability's scope extends beyond simple parameter injection to include BBcode tag handling within message bodies, avatar file content processing, and even login name validation, creating multiple attack vectors that collectively weaken the system's overall security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses, directly correlating with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The attack surface encompasses not only standard HTTP parameters but also specialized markup processing within the forum, guestbook, and comment modules where crafted IMG BBcode tags can be executed as malicious scripts. This particular weakness in the application's input handling mechanism allows attackers to inject malicious HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects both user-facing interfaces and administrative functions, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend far beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain access and execute malicious activities within the compromised system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate user sessions, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the context of the compromised CMS. The fact that the vulnerability affects both frontend and backend administrative functions means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, particularly when combined with the IMG BBcode injection capability that allows for more sophisticated attack payloads. The impact on user trust and system integrity is substantial, as users may unknowingly interact with malicious content that appears to originate from legitimate sources within the CMS environment, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Amiro.CMS for content management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3803 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Amiro.CMS versions to the latest available releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations must implement comprehensive input filtering across all user-provided parameters, particularly focusing on the status_message, message body, avatar file, and loginname fields that serve as primary attack vectors. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits should verify that all input handling mechanisms properly sanitize user data before processing. Administrative access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566 - Phishing and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols indicates that organizations should also implement network monitoring and user behavior analytics to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security training for administrators and users can help prevent successful social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability, while maintaining detailed logs of all administrative activities can aid in incident response and forensic analysis.