CVE-2010-1453 in Piwik
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Login form in Piwik 0.1.6 through 0.5.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the form_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1453 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Piwik analytics platform version 0.1.6 through 0.5.5. This vulnerability specifically targets the login form functionality and resides within the form_url parameter handling mechanism. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's authentication interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of the form_url parameter which is typically used to redirect users after successful authentication. When the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it back to the browser, attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects the login form specifically, meaning that any user attempting to authenticate through the affected Piwik versions could be exposed to this attack vector. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts that could capture session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can compromise the integrity of the entire analytics platform. Attackers could potentially hijack user sessions, gain unauthorized access to sensitive analytical data, or manipulate the platform's functionality to serve malicious content to other users. The vulnerability's presence in the login form makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during the authentication process when users are most likely to be logged in with elevated privileges. This creates a scenario where an attacker could not only exploit the XSS vulnerability but also potentially escalate their privileges within the system.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access or privilege escalation. Organizations using affected Piwik versions should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for the form_url parameter, proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied content, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution. The most effective remediation involves updating to Piwik version 0.5.6 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, network administrators should monitor for suspicious login patterns and implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability.