CVE-2009-4926 in Online Contact Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Online Contact Manager (formerly EContact PRO) 3.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) showGroup parameter to (a) index.php and the (2) id parameter to (b) view.php, (c) email.php, (d) edit.php, and (e) delete.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2025
The CVE-2009-4926 vulnerability affects the Online Contact Manager application version 3.0, formerly known as EContact PRO, exposing multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts within the context of affected users' browsers. This vulnerability resides in the application's parameter handling mechanisms where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses. The flaw specifically manifests in the processing of the showGroup parameter within index.php and the id parameter across multiple files including view.php, email.php, edit.php, and delete.php, creating attack vectors that can be exploited without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's web interface. When the application processes the showGroup parameter in index.php or the id parameter in various php files, it directly incorporates user-provided data into dynamic web content without adequate sanitization measures. This creates a classic XSS condition where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed in the victim's browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability follows CWE-79 patterns related to cross-site scripting, specifically manifesting as stored or reflected XSS depending on how the malicious input is processed and stored within the application's data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that can compromise user sessions and access sensitive contact information managed by the application. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when visited by authenticated users, execute unauthorized operations within the application's context. This could lead to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or the creation of backdoor access points within the contact management system. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the affected application components, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application handles sensitive personal or business contact data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads and execute commands within user browsers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Developers should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input before processing, while also ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly encoded when rendered in web responses. The recommended approach includes implementing a comprehensive input sanitization framework that filters out dangerous characters and patterns commonly associated with script injection attacks. Additionally, the application should adopt Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, while implementing proper access controls and session management practices to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping applications updated and following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.