CVE-2010-4873 in WeBid
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in confirm.php in WeBid 0.8.5 P1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2025
The CVE-2010-4873 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the WeBid 0.8.5 P1 online auction platform that exposes users to potential malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects the confirm.php script which processes user confirmation requests within the auction system. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the id parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of client-side injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, enabling threat actors to execute code in victims' browsers without their knowledge.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture where user-supplied input flows directly into the web page output without proper sanitization. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing specially formatted script tags within the id parameter, the confirm.php script processes this input without validation, subsequently rendering the malicious content in the user's browser during normal operation. This allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and other malicious activities that can persist across multiple user interactions with the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the application's response, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious links or files to trick users into executing code on their systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4873 extends beyond simple script injection, creating a significant risk to the overall security posture of the WeBid platform and its users. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject advertisements that compromise the user experience and potentially lead to further exploitation. The vulnerability particularly affects users who trust the auction platform and may click on links from compromised sources, making it a prime target for targeted attacks. The long-term consequences include potential data breaches, loss of user confidence, and regulatory compliance issues that could result in financial penalties. Organizations using this version of WeBid face a heightened risk of credential theft and unauthorized transactions, as the vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the auction process and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's codebase indicates a lack of proper security testing and input validation practices, which should be addressed through comprehensive security audits and code reviews to prevent similar issues in future releases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4873 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly in the confirm.php script where the vulnerability originates. This includes sanitizing the id parameter to remove or escape potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed and establish a robust input validation framework that follows security best practices. Additionally, the application should be upgraded to a newer version of WeBid that addresses this vulnerability, as version 0.8.5 P1 is outdated and likely contains additional security flaws. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in production environments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security awareness training for development teams and adherence to secure coding standards throughout the software development lifecycle.