CVE-2010-4264 in Forums
Summary
by MITRE • 06/22/2021
It was found in vanilla forums before 2.0.10 a cross-site scripting vulnerability where a filename could contain arbitrary code to execute on the client side.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4264 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in vanilla forums versions prior to 2.0.10. This security weakness resides in the forum software's handling of filename parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before it is processed and rendered within the web application's output.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows attackers to craft malicious filenames containing script payloads that get executed when the vulnerable forum displays file listings or handles file-related operations. When a user views a page containing the malicious filename, the embedded script code executes in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4264 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a persistent vector for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through a filename parameter, they can leverage this foothold to perform actions such as stealing user cookies, modifying forum content, or even establishing backdoors within the vulnerable environment. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning as it can remain active across multiple user sessions and is often difficult to detect through standard security monitoring.
Organizations running affected versions of vanilla forums face significant risk exposure from this vulnerability, as it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit and can affect any user who interacts with file listings or upload features. The attack surface is broad since file name parameters are commonly used in forum functionality including file attachments, media uploads, and resource references. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to the broader ATT&CK framework under the T1566 technique for initial access through malicious file downloads, as well as T1059 for command and control through script injection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4264 primarily involve immediate patching of vanilla forums to version 2.0.10 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize filename inputs. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation controls at multiple layers including web application firewalls, output encoding for all user-generated content, and regular security audits of uploaded files. Network-level protections such as content security policies and strict input validation can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing comprehensive input sanitization practices as recommended by OWASP and other security frameworks to prevent similar cross-site scripting scenarios.