CVE-2010-5035 in eSwap
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in iScripts eSwap 2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the txtHomeSearch parameter (aka the search field). NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5035 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the iScripts eSwap 2.0 web application, specifically affecting the search.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the txtHomeSearch parameter, which is essentially the primary search field used by users to query the platform. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code directly into the application's response, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core search functionality of the platform, which is likely accessed by numerous users on a regular basis, amplifying the potential impact of any successful exploitation.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting issue where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser. The txtHomeSearch parameter serves as the attack vector, and when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements, these elements are directly embedded into the page response without adequate filtering or encoding. This allows the malicious code to execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, and it represents a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for web application security. The issue demonstrates poor secure coding practices where the application fails to implement proper sanitization mechanisms for user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, enabling them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to accounts. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used to redirect users to phishing sites that mimic the legitimate platform, leading to credential compromise on a larger scale. The attack surface is particularly wide since the search functionality is likely a core feature that all users interact with, making it an attractive target for mass exploitation. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for initial access through malicious inputs, and potentially T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The ability to inject code into a widely-used search function means that even a single successful attack could potentially compromise multiple users simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The immediate fix involves sanitizing all user input through proper encoding before it is processed or displayed, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped to prevent script execution. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application. The fix should also include proper error handling that prevents the direct exposure of user input in error messages or logs, as these can also serve as attack vectors. Organizations should establish secure coding practices that enforce input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly validated and sanitized before any processing occurs. This vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies and demonstrates how a single flaw in input handling can create widespread security implications for web applications.