CVE-2010-4874 in NinkoBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in users.php in NinkoBB 1.3 RC5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) first_name, (2) last_name, (3) msn, or (4) aim parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
The CVE-2010-4874 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the NinkoBB 1.3 RC5 bulletin board system that exposes users to significant security risks. This vulnerability affects the users.php script and specifically targets four user input parameters including first_name, last_name, msn, and aim fields. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, making it a well-documented and serious security concern that affects web application input validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious scripts is submitted through the affected parameters and subsequently displayed on web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. When other users view these pages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web page output without adequate security measures such as HTML encoding or content security policies. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create persistent XSS payloads that remain active as long as the affected application continues to display the malicious input.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4874 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. Users who visit pages containing malicious content may have their browser sessions compromised, potentially allowing attackers to access private messages, personal information, or administrative functions if the affected users have elevated privileges. The vulnerability also enables attackers to create persistent backdoors within the application by injecting scripts that can harvest cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify page content in real-time. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in community forums where users frequently interact and share personal information, as it can be exploited to target multiple users simultaneously and establish long-term presence within the application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input parameters before displaying them on web pages, using proper HTML encoding techniques to prevent script execution. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the application should employ proper parameter validation to ensure that user inputs conform to expected formats and lengths. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security weaknesses in web applications. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, while upgrading to patched versions of NinkoBB or implementing proper security controls would address the immediate threat.