CVE-2009-4522 in Bloofox
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.5.html in BloofoxCMS 0.3.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search parameter to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4522 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in BloofoxCMS version 0.3.5, specifically within the search functionality of the application. This vulnerability resides in the search.5.html component and manifests when the search parameter is passed through the index.php file, creating an exploitable vector for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of victim browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is rendered back to end users through the web interface. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they allow attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that executes in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as a result of improper sanitization of user input data. The flaw operates by accepting unfiltered search queries and directly incorporating them into the web page output without appropriate encoding or escaping measures. When a user submits a search request containing malicious script tags or javascript code, the application fails to sanitize this input properly, allowing the injected code to execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the search results. This creates a persistent threat where any user who accesses pages containing the malicious content becomes a potential victim of the attack.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4522 extends beyond simple data theft or session manipulation, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies and authentication tokens, or even inject backdoors into the affected system. The vulnerability affects the core search functionality of BloofoxCMS, which is likely a frequently used feature, amplifying the potential impact of the exploit. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can leverage the XSS to deliver malicious payloads through search results, and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, since the attack occurs through HTTP/HTTPS web protocols. The persistence of this vulnerability in a content management system makes it particularly concerning as it could affect multiple users over extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4522 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input data by applying proper HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-supplied content in web pages. This approach prevents malicious scripts from executing in the victim's browser context. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, upgrading to a patched version of BloofoxCMS or migrating to a more secure content management system represents the most effective long-term solution. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for similar XSS vulnerabilities in web applications, and developers should follow secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines to prevent such issues in future implementations.