CVE-2009-4087 in telepark.wiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in telepark.wiki 2.4.23 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The CVE-2009-4087 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in telepark.wiki version 2.4.23 and earlier, exposing web applications to persistent malicious code injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script within the telepark.wiki framework, leveraging the PATH_INFO parameter to execute unauthorized JavaScript or HTML code. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate URL paths and inject malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize the PATH_INFO parameter before processing it within the index.php script. This parameter typically contains additional path information appended to the URL, and when improperly handled, it becomes a conduit for malicious code injection. Attackers can craft URLs with specially formatted PATH_INFO values containing JavaScript code or HTML tags that get executed when the application processes these inputs. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting web application security controls that should prevent unauthorized code execution within user contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data manipulation, and redirection to malicious websites. When successful, the XSS attack can compromise user sessions, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information and potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects all users interacting with the telepark.wiki application, as any user who views pages containing the injected malicious code becomes a victim. This creates a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time, especially in collaborative environments where wiki applications are used for shared content management.
Security mitigations for CVE-2009-4087 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the PATH_INFO parameter, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and JavaScript protocols. Implementing proper content security policies and using secure coding practices that prevent direct insertion of user data into HTML output are essential. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to severe security consequences.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during development cycles. The attack vector through PATH_INFO parameter manipulation underscores how seemingly innocuous URL components can become security risks when not properly handled. Organizations utilizing telepark.wiki or similar wiki platforms should prioritize immediate patching and implement defensive measures including regular security audits, input validation controls, and user education about recognizing potential XSS attack indicators. The remediation process should include thorough code review to ensure all input parameters are properly sanitized and that output encoding is consistently applied throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.