CVE-2010-0971 in ATutor
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ATutor 1.6.4 allow remote authenticated users, with Instructor privileges, to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Question and (2) Choice fields in tools/polls/add.php, the (3) Type and (4) Title fields in tools/groups/create_manual.php, and the (5) Title field in assignments/add_assignment.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2010-0971 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in ATutor version 1.6.4 that specifically targets authenticated users with Instructor privileges. This flaw exists within the course management system's handling of user input across multiple administrative interfaces, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions relying on this platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans three distinct file locations within the ATutor application, each representing different attack vectors for the same underlying flaw. The first vector involves the Question and Choice fields within tools/polls/add.php, where unfiltered user input permits script injection that can execute when poll results are displayed. The second vector targets the Type and Title fields in tools/groups/create_manual.php, allowing attackers to inject malicious code during group creation processes. The third vector affects the Title field in assignments/add_assignment.php, where similar input sanitization failures enable script execution when assignment details are rendered to users. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and align with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables authenticated attackers with Instructor privileges to potentially escalate their access within the learning management system. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even execute commands on behalf of other users with potentially higher privileges. The fact that these vulnerabilities require only Instructor-level access makes them particularly dangerous in educational environments where instructors may have broad access to student data and course materials. The cross-site scripting nature of these flaws means that any user who views the malicious content could be compromised, potentially affecting entire classes or groups of students who interact with the infected content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0971 should prioritize immediate patching of the ATutor platform to version 1.6.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that enforce strict validation of all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces. Output encoding should be implemented for all dynamic content rendered to users, ensuring that any potentially malicious input is properly escaped before display. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of content creation within polling, group, and assignment modules, as these represent the primary attack vectors. Regular security assessments of learning management systems should include thorough testing of input validation mechanisms and user privilege controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.