CVE-2010-0617 in evalSMSI
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ajax.php in evalSMSI 2.1.03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the return parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2026
The CVE-2010-0617 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the evalSMSI 2.1.03 web application, specifically within the ajax.php component. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution risks through malicious input injection, creating a significant security exposure for users interacting with the system. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the return parameter, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the ajax.php script. When the return parameter is processed without proper sanitization, malicious payloads can be stored or directly executed in the victim's browser environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to validate or encode user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with minimal access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's data store or are executed immediately upon page load, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive information. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user interactions, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on the evalSMSI platform. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of scripting languages for execution, and T1566.001 which covers spearphishing with links targeting web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0617 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly parameters like return, before processing or storing them within the application. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper escape sequences should be applied when rendering user data in HTML contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities across their application stack. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the evalSMSI application to version 2.1.04 or later, as this vulnerability was likely addressed through proper input validation implementations. Additionally, security awareness training for developers regarding secure coding practices and regular code reviews focusing on input sanitization can prevent similar issues from occurring in future application development cycles.