CVE-2010-3457 in Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Symphony CMS 2.0.7 and 2.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) fields[website] parameter in the post comments feature in articles/a-primer-to-symphony-2s-default-theme/ or (2) send-email[recipient] parameter to about/. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2010-3457 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Symphony CMS versions 2.0.7 and 2.1.1, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the content management system's comment submission functionality and email sending features, creating pathways for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of affected user sessions. The flaw specifically targets two distinct parameters: fields[website] within the article comments section and send-email[recipient] in the about section, both of which fail to properly sanitize user-provided input before rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection vulnerability where untrusted data is executed as web script by the victim's browser. This weakness enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with persistent access vectors that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. When users view affected pages containing malicious scripts, the injected code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects the default theme's comment system, making it particularly dangerous as it targets commonly used features that generate high user interaction. Attackers can craft malicious URLs or comments that, when viewed by other users, automatically execute harmful scripts without requiring additional user interaction beyond visiting the compromised page. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that these parameters are accessible through standard web forms and API endpoints, making exploitation relatively straightforward and requiring minimal technical expertise. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks through malicious web content, and T1059, which encompasses command and scripting interpreters.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3457 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding for all user-provided data, specifically ensuring that the fields[website] and send-email[recipient] parameters undergo strict validation before being processed or displayed. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious input patterns and implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The recommended approach includes escaping special characters in all dynamic content, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for user-generated content, and establishing robust input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially dangerous characters. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of Symphony CMS is essential, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Security teams should also conduct regular penetration testing and code reviews focusing on input validation, implement automated security scanning tools, and establish comprehensive monitoring for suspicious user behavior patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of defense-in-depth strategies and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks in content management systems.