CVE-2010-4407 in AlGuest
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in AlGuest 1.1c-patched allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) nome (nickname), (2) messaggio (message), and (3) link (homepage) parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4407 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the AlGuest 1.1c-patched web application. This vulnerability resides within the index.php file and affects multiple input parameters that are processed without adequate sanitization or validation. The affected parameters include nome (nickname), messaggio (message), and link (homepage), which collectively create multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness. The presence of this vulnerability in a guestbook application demonstrates how seemingly benign web components can become entry points for sophisticated attacks targeting user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious script code into the application's input fields. When users interact with the guestbook interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it back to other users. This lack of input validation creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious javascript or html code within the nome, messaggio, or link parameters. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw essentially permits the execution of arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for both application integrity and user security. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can compromise user sessions through cookie theft, enable phishing attacks by redirecting users to malicious domains, or facilitate the execution of malicious scripts that can harvest sensitive information. The guestbook nature of AlGuest makes this particularly dangerous as it inherently involves user-generated content that is displayed to other visitors, creating a propagation mechanism for malicious scripts. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject scripts that steal authentication tokens, redirect users to fraudulent sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level fixes and broader security practices. The primary solution involves implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within the application. This includes validating input against strict whitelists, implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and ensuring that the application employs Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution. Security practitioners should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for input handling, ensuring that user-generated content undergoes rigorous validation before being stored or rendered. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as the presence of one XSS vulnerability often indicates potential for similar issues throughout the codebase. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control, credential access, and defense evasion, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access patterns and maintain control over compromised systems.