CVE-2010-3455 in AChecker
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in AChecker 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the uri parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2019
The CVE-2010-3455 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the AChecker 1.0 web application, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the uri parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding practices that have been consistently identified as critical security concerns in web application development. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-79, "Cross-site Scripting", underscores its alignment with well-established security patterns where insufficient validation of user-supplied data leads to unauthorized code execution in victim browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the AChecker application fails to properly sanitize or encode the uri parameter before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who subsequently access the affected page. This type of vulnerability operates under the principle that web applications must treat all user input as untrusted and must properly escape or encode data before rendering it in HTML contexts. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows for the execution of scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, thereby compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the web application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of the affected web application. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive user data, or establish persistent access to the application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of AChecker by creating a trust boundary violation where user input is directly reflected without proper sanitization. This weakness can be exploited through various methods including stored XSS, reflected XSS, or even DOM-based XSS depending on how the uri parameter is processed. The implications for web application security are significant as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3455 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques to prevent malicious code execution. The recommended approach involves applying strict input sanitization to all parameters received from users, particularly those that are reflected back in web page content. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for gaining access through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and the CWE classification system to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications. Regular security testing including dynamic and static analysis should be conducted to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities and ensure that input validation mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack vectors.