CVE-2009-4767 in Shoutbox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in Plohni Shoutbox 1.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) input_name and (2) input_text parameters. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2025
The CVE-2009-4767 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Plohni Shoutbox 1.0 web application, specifically targeting the index.php file. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct input parameters namely input_name and input_text which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web page responses. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent threats in web security assessments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is directly reflected in the application's output without proper validation or encoding mechanisms. When an attacker submits malicious payload through either the input_name or input_text parameters, the application processes this data without adequate sanitization, allowing HTML tags and JavaScript code to be embedded directly into the response. This creates an environment where any user who views the affected page becomes vulnerable to script execution, as the malicious code is executed within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects core functionality parameters that are likely to receive user input regularly, making exploitation relatively straightforward and potentially widespread.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both end users and system administrators. Attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the application interface, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, as it relies on standard web application exploitation techniques where attackers craft malicious payloads that are then executed when other users interact with the vulnerable application. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK tactics including T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can use the XSS to establish persistent access through malicious scripts or redirect victims to phishing sites. The long-term impact includes potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations that could affect organizations using this vulnerable software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4767 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper HTML encoding before rendering any content in the application's response. This can be achieved by implementing a comprehensive input validation framework that filters out potentially malicious characters and tags, while also employing output encoding techniques to ensure that any data rendered to the browser is properly escaped. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments, particularly for legacy web applications that may not have been designed with modern security considerations in mind. Given that this vulnerability affects an older version of the software, the most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the application or replacing it with a more secure alternative that follows current web application security standards.