CVE-2010-2367 in AD-EDIT2
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.cgi in AD-EDIT2 before 3.0.9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2019
The CVE-2010-2367 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the AD-EDIT2 web application software version 3.0.8 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the search.cgi component of the application, which serves as a core functionality for searching within the directory editing system. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, creating an environment where malicious actors can execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw exists due to insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters passed to the search functionality, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's search results or processing mechanisms. The vulnerability impacts the application's security posture by enabling unauthorized code execution in victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems. The attack vector operates through unspecified input vectors, suggesting that multiple entry points within the search functionality could be exploited, including but not limited to search parameters, filter criteria, or user-supplied data fields. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of input validation and demonstrates a failure in implementing proper output encoding mechanisms that would prevent malicious scripts from executing in the context of legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially gain access to sensitive user data, session cookies, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple input vectors means that attackers can craft payloads that remain effective across different search scenarios, making the exploitation more versatile and harder to detect. The attack typically involves injecting malicious JavaScript code through the search interface, which then executes in the browser of any user who views the affected search results or interacts with the compromised functionality. This vulnerability can facilitate session hijacking attacks, where attackers steal authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users, or enable more complex attacks such as credential harvesting or redirection to malicious sites. The security implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where AD-EDIT2 might be used for managing directory services, as compromised access could lead to broader network infiltration and privilege escalation opportunities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2367 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the search functionality. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization that filters or escapes special characters commonly used in XSS attacks, including angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. The recommended approach involves applying context-specific output encoding to all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before presentation. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies can help prevent unauthorized script execution even if input validation is bypassed. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to AD-EDIT2 version 3.0.9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the vulnerability. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious input patterns targeting XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, which emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls. Organizations should also implement security awareness training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application development cycles and ensure that security considerations are integrated into the software development lifecycle from the initial design phase.