CVE-2010-0941 in eTek Systems Hit Counter
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in eTek Systems Hit Counter 2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (1) index.php, (2) inc/login.php, (3) admin/index.php, and (4) admin/forgot.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The CVE-2010-0941 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting eTek Systems Hit Counter version 2.0, demonstrating a classic input validation weakness that has persisted across multiple application endpoints. This vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the PATH_INFO parameter, which is processed by several key application files including index.php, inc/login.php, admin/index.php, and admin/forgot.php. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions, creating a significant vector for persistent security breaches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities through improper input handling and output encoding. The PATH_INFO parameter, typically used for passing additional path information to web applications, becomes a conduit for malicious payload injection when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming data. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content that gets executed when processed by the vulnerable application components, effectively bypassing standard security mechanisms that protect against such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the targeted web application. When users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to phishing sites, or modifying application behavior. The vulnerability affects both frontend and administrative interfaces, making it particularly dangerous as it could compromise not just regular user accounts but also administrative privileges within the hit counter system. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that multiple endpoints are vulnerable, providing attackers with several potential entry points for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0941 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all application components. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied data, particularly PATH_INFO parameters, through proper HTML entity encoding before processing or displaying content. Organizations should implement secure coding practices that align with the OWASP Top Ten security recommendations, specifically addressing XSS prevention through proper input validation and output escaping techniques. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version of eTek Systems Hit Counter that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version appears to be obsolete and no longer receiving security updates. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation strategy. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar input validation flaws in legacy web applications, as many older systems continue to operate without proper security updates.