CVE-2010-1091 in phpMySite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in contact.php in phpMySite allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name, (2) city, (3) email, (4) state, and (5) message parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1091 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the contact.php component of phpMySite, a web-based database management tool. This vulnerability resides in the input validation mechanisms that process user-submitted data through various form fields including name, city, email, state, and message parameters. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers who interact with the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input data, specifically targeting the application's handling of user-provided information in web forms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious payloads through any of the five vulnerable parameters mentioned in the CVE description. These parameters are processed by the contact.php script without adequate sanitization or output encoding, allowing attackers to inject HTML content or JavaScript code that executes in the browser of unsuspecting users. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be delivered through simple web form submissions, making it easily exploitable by attackers with minimal technical expertise. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental security controls that should prevent such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on behalf of the victim. The persistent nature of these vulnerabilities means that once exploited, they can continue to affect users until the underlying code is patched and deployed. The affected phpMySite application becomes a potential vector for delivering malware, conducting phishing attacks, or establishing persistent access points within networks where the application is deployed. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database management tools may be accessible to multiple users with varying privilege levels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1091 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability. The recommended approach includes implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered back to users in web pages. Security controls should incorporate proper HTML escaping and encoding of output data to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using modern web application frameworks that provide built-in XSS protection mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both application-level and user interaction vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the critical importance of regular security assessments and input validation testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in web applications.