CVE-2010-4868 in W-Agora
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php3 (aka search.php) in W-Agora 4.2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the bn parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2025
The CVE-2010-4868 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the W-Agora web application version 4.2.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the search.php3 script, which is commonly used for search functionality within web applications. The flaw manifests when user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the browser, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the bn parameter in the search.php script, which serves as the primary injection vector for malicious content. When an attacker submits crafted input through this parameter, the application fails to properly escape or encode the user-supplied data before displaying it in the web page response. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that executes in the victim's browser when the compromised page is loaded. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can exploit this flaw to manipulate the application's search functionality into executing malicious code, potentially compromising user sessions and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects all users of W-Agora versions up to 4.2.1, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not updated their systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4868 should focus on input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input sanitization by escaping special characters in the bn parameter before processing or displaying user input. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability. The recommended approach includes implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied content, utilizing secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities, and ensuring that all applications are regularly updated with the latest security patches. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and implement proper content security policies to further reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls in web application development, aligning with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security frameworks.