CVE-2009-4554 in Forums 2000
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Snitz Forums 2000 3.4.07 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the url parameter to pop_send_to_friend.asp, related to a crafted onload attribute of an IMG element; or (2) an onload attribute in a sound tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2009-4554 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Snitz Forums 2000 version 3.4.07, demonstrating a classic weakness in web application input validation that has persisted across numerous security platforms. This vulnerability exists within the forum's pop_send_to_friend.asp script, which fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, specifically the url parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw operates through two distinct attack vectors that leverage different HTML element attributes to achieve the same malicious objective.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the forum's web application code. When a user submits a crafted url parameter containing malicious script within an IMG element's onload attribute, or when an onload attribute is embedded within a sound tag, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before rendering them in the web page response. This allows attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a condition where a web application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a URL that, when visited by a forum user, would execute JavaScript code to steal session cookies, redirect the user to phishing sites, or even modify the forum's content to display malicious advertisements or propagate further attacks. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the forum, as any user who visits a page containing the malicious input becomes a potential victim, creating a scalable attack vector that can amplify the impact of a single compromised page. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes the use of malicious links to gain access to systems through social engineering.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple parameter manipulation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers of varying skill levels. The attack surface is broad since any user can potentially submit content that could be exploited, and the vulnerability affects the core functionality of the forum's user interaction features. Organizations running this version of Snitz Forums face significant risk of user data compromise and potential system compromise, as the XSS vulnerability can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks. The lack of proper input validation and output encoding in the application's security architecture demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the software's defensive mechanisms, highlighting the importance of implementing comprehensive security controls throughout the application lifecycle. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for proper security testing and input validation procedures that should be integrated into all web application development processes to prevent such widespread exposure to client-side attacks.