CVE-2010-2849 in nuBuilder
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in productionnu2/nuedit.php in nuBuilder 10.04.20, and possibly other versions before 10.07.12, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the f parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2849 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the nuBuilder web application framework version 10.04.20 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically affects the productionnu2/nuedit.php component, which serves as a core editing interface for the application. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the f parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. This particular implementation exposes the application to persistent XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the web application environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the f parameter in the nuedit.php script, which processes user input without adequate validation or sanitization measures. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, will be interpreted by web browsers as legitimate content, thereby bypassing standard security controls. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the application's interface. The flaw demonstrates poor input handling practices that violate fundamental web security principles and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, specifically targeting the application's server-side script execution environment. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the underlying code is patched, making it particularly dangerous for long-running web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2849 significantly compromises the security posture of systems utilizing affected nuBuilder versions, as it enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within the application environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability can facilitate unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of application content, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects not just individual user sessions but can compromise the entire application framework, potentially allowing attackers to access administrative functions or manipulate database content. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face increased risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage due to the exposure of user data and application integrity. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions prior to 10.07.12 indicates a systemic issue in the application's input validation mechanisms that requires comprehensive remediation rather than isolated patching.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements in the application's codebase. The primary recommendation involves implementing strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those processed by the nuedit.php component. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls and content security policies to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. The implementation of proper parameter sanitization using established security libraries and frameworks can effectively neutralize the threat vector. Additionally, regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent flaw underscores the necessity of comprehensive security training for developers and regular updates to security protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing session management controls that can detect and respond to suspicious activities within the application environment, as outlined in the NIST SP 800-53 security controls for application security.