CVE-2010-3906 in Git
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Gitweb 1.7.3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) f and (2) fp parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The CVE-2010-3906 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Gitweb versions 1.7.3.3 and earlier, exposing web applications to persistent malicious code injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the f and fp parameters within the Gitweb interface, creating an attack vector that allows remote threat actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw resides in the inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms implemented within the Gitweb application's parameter handling logic, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper security filtering.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious payloads containing script tags or HTML elements and injects them into the f and fp parameters of Gitweb requests. When the vulnerable application processes these parameters and renders them in the user interface without appropriate sanitization, the injected code executes within the browser context of authenticated users. This creates a persistent threat where malicious scripts can access session cookies, steal user credentials, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 principle of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack pattern where the malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3906 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent footholds within environments where Gitweb is deployed. Organizations utilizing Gitweb for code repository management and collaboration face significant risks as this vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise developer accounts, access sensitive source code repositories, and potentially escalate privileges within the development infrastructure. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible Gitweb instances. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through malicious web content and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter through web shells.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3906 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures within Gitweb applications. Organizations should upgrade to Gitweb versions 1.7.3.4 or later where the vulnerability has been patched through improved parameter sanitization and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar input validation flaws. The remediation process should also include comprehensive user education on recognizing suspicious web content and implementing proper access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.