CVE-2010-3425 in SmarterStats
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in UserControls/Popups/frmHelp.aspx in SmarterStats 5.3, 5.3.3819, and possibly other 5.3 versions, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
The CVE-2010-3425 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in SmarterStats version 5.3 and related builds including 5.3.3819. This vulnerability exists within the UserControl/Popups/frmHelp.aspx component of the web application, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application security weaknesses. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the url parameter, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications viewed by other users. The vulnerability operates by accepting unsanitized input from the url parameter and subsequently rendering it within the web page without proper encoding or validation. This creates an environment where an attacker can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that execute when victims navigate to the vulnerable page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser session.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing SmarterStats 5.3 versions, as it enables remote code execution within user browsers without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for web applications accessible to external users. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of web applications by potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple URL manipulation techniques, making it attractive to a wide range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated attackers. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001, which covers the technique of "Phishing for Information" through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization measures to mitigate this risk. The recommended remediation includes updating to patched versions of SmarterStats, implementing proper HTML encoding of user-supplied input, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and implement content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar cross-site scripting attacks.