CVE-2010-0997 in Content Management Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in 107_plugins/content/content_manager.php in the Content Management plugin in e107 before 0.7.20, when the personal content manager is enabled, allows user-assisted remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the content_heading parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0997 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the e107 content management system's plugin architecture. This vulnerability specifically targets the Content Management plugin version prior to 0.7.20, where the personal content manager feature creates an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code. The flaw exists in the content_manager.php file which processes user input without proper sanitization mechanisms, creating a persistent security risk for websites utilizing this CMS version.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the content_heading parameter processing. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges access the personal content manager functionality, they inadvertently expose the system to XSS attacks through the content_heading parameter. This parameter accepts user-supplied data that flows directly into the web page output without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness leading to XSS exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, it represents a privilege escalation risk where malicious users with legitimate access can leverage their credentials to compromise other users within the same system. This creates a significant risk for websites where multiple users have content management privileges, as the attacker only needs to convince one of these users to interact with a crafted malicious link or content item. The attack vector operates through user-assisted remote execution, meaning that the vulnerability cannot be exploited directly by external parties but requires legitimate users to perform actions that trigger the vulnerable code path.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of their e107 installations to version 0.7.20 or later, as this release includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper access controls and monitoring user activities within the content management system to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities as additional defensive layers. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, highlighting the multi-stage nature of potential exploitation scenarios. Regular security audits of CMS plugins and core components remain essential for identifying similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with persistent access to web applications.