CVE-2010-4097 in Aardvark Topsites PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in Aardvark Topsites PHP 5.2.0 and 5.2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) mail, (2) title, (3) u, and (4) url parameters. NOTE: the q parameter is already covered by CVE-2009-2302.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4097 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Aardvark Topsites PHP version 5.2.0 and 5.2.1, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The affected parameters mail, title, u, and url create multiple attack vectors that allow remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically targets the input validation mechanisms within the Aardvark Topsites PHP application, which is commonly used for creating and managing web directories and link exchanges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from the specified parameters is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web page output. Attackers can craft malicious payloads containing javascript code or html tags that get executed in the victim's browser when they view the affected page. The mail parameter likely accepts email addresses, the title parameter handles title text, u parameter may process user identifiers, and url parameter processes web addresses. These parameters are all susceptible to injection attacks where attackers can embed script tags or other malicious code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple input points, increasing the attack surface and making it easier for threat actors to find a successful exploitation vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft, and further exploitation of the compromised system. When users browse to pages containing malicious content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify page content. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potentially the entire web application. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely on user-generated content for directory listings, which makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users can submit information that gets displayed to others. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through web shell or malicious file upload, and T1059.007 for command and control through script injection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-supplied patches or upgrade to a secure version of Aardvark Topsites PHP that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Input sanitization should be implemented using proper escaping functions such as htmlspecialchars() for php applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly encoded before being rendered in web pages. The security team should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications, and developers should be trained on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in future development projects. The fix should include proper parameter validation for all input fields and ensure that no user-controllable data is directly output to web pages without appropriate encoding or sanitization.