CVE-2010-2428 in Wing FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin_loginok.html in the Administrator web interface in Wing FTP Server for Windows 3.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2025
The CVE-2010-2428 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Wing FTP Server administrative web interface version 3.5.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the admin_loginok.html component which handles authentication responses within the server's administrative console. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface context. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious POST requests that contain embedded script code or HTML content, which then gets executed in the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the server's failure to implement proper security controls for handling user input within the authentication flow. When the administrative login process completes successfully, the system renders user-provided data without adequate sanitization, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack where the malicious script is reflected off the web server back to the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, which typically operates with elevated privileges and access to sensitive server configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw can gain unauthorized access to the administrative console, potentially leading to complete server compromise. The attack requires minimal privileges since it targets the authentication response page, and once successful, could allow threat actors to modify server settings, add new user accounts, access sensitive files, or even install malicious software on the server. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can craft payloads that appear to originate from legitimate server responses, making detection more difficult and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers Valid Accounts and T1566.001 which covers Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through compromised administrative credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2428 should focus on immediate patching of the Wing FTP Server to version 3.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding controls at the web application level, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not be considered a replacement for proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious POST requests containing script tags or other malicious payloads, particularly those targeting administrative interfaces. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other web applications and server components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation across all user-facing interfaces. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links or opening unexpected attachments that might contain malicious payloads designed to exploit such vulnerabilities.