CVE-2010-5002 in Exponentcms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in modules/slideshowmodule/slideshow.js.php in Exponent CMS 0.97.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the u parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2025
The CVE-2010-5002 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Exponent CMS version 0.97.0 that specifically affects the slideshow module implementation. This vulnerability resides within the slideshow.js.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates through the u parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The flaw enables attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's output, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further exploitation vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages viewed by other users. This particular implementation vulnerability occurs in the context of dynamic content generation where the slideshow module processes user input through the u parameter and directly incorporates it into JavaScript output without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack vector is straightforward as it requires only that an attacker craft malicious input containing script tags or HTML elements that will be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected slideshow content.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for Exponent CMS users and administrators who may not be aware of the potential for persistent script injection attacks. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The remote nature of the attack means that any user who accesses the vulnerable slideshow functionality could be compromised, making this a particularly dangerous flaw in a content management system where multiple users may interact with the same content. The vulnerability essentially transforms the legitimate slideshow functionality into a potential attack platform that can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5002 should focus on immediate patching of the Exponent CMS to version 0.97.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to limit the impact of successful XSS attacks. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews of all modules that process user input, ensuring that proper sanitization techniques are applied before any data is rendered in web contexts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0002 (Execution) phases, as it provides attackers with a method to establish a foothold and execute malicious code within user browsers. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar flaws in other modules or applications that may be vulnerable to similar cross-site scripting attacks.