CVE-2010-2858 in SimpNews
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in news.php in SimpNews 2.47.03 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) layout and (2) sortorder parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2858 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting SimpNews version 2.47.03 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability resides within the news.php script which serves as a core component for news management and display functionality. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, specifically the layout and sortorder parameters that are directly incorporated into the web page output without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that control how news items are displayed and sorted within the application interface. When an attacker crafts malicious input for either the layout or sortorder parameters, the application processes these inputs directly without proper sanitization, allowing arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code to be executed within the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the application does not implement proper output encoding or input validation measures before incorporating user-supplied data into dynamic web content generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the news management system, potentially compromising the integrity of displayed content and user interactions. Attackers could exploit this to inject malicious payloads that persist across user sessions, making the impact particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive information or user data.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. It demonstrates the classic pattern of insufficient input validation and output encoding that has been documented as a primary concern in web security standards. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers social engineering techniques through malicious content delivery, and T1059 which involves execution through command and scripting interpreters. Organizations utilizing SimpNews versions prior to the patched release face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where user-generated content or administrative functions are prevalent.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided patch for SimpNews version 2.47.04 or later, implementing proper parameter sanitization routines, and establishing robust input validation for all dynamic content parameters. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies, regular security code reviews, and comprehensive testing procedures to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications. The fix should ensure that all user-provided inputs undergo proper encoding before being rendered in web pages, thereby preventing malicious script execution while maintaining application functionality.