CVE-2010-5046 in ecoCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in ecoCMS allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the p parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The CVE-2010-5046 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ecoCMS content management system that specifically targets the admin.php administrative interface. This vulnerability resides in the parameter handling mechanism where the p parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before processing, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated admin sessions. The flaw demonstrates a classic insecure input validation issue that directly violates fundamental web security principles and allows for persistent code execution within the administrative environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code and passes it through the p parameter in the admin.php endpoint. When the vulnerable application processes this parameter without adequate sanitization or output encoding, the injected code becomes executable within the browser context of any user who accesses the affected administrative page. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can manipulate administrative functions, steal session cookies, or perform unauthorized actions within the CMS environment. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5046 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to the full administrative capabilities of the ecoCMS system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can modify website content, create new user accounts, alter system configurations, and potentially escalate privileges to gain complete control over the affected website. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface where sensitive operations occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise entire websites. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with malicious attachments, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script injection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures throughout the ecoCMS application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that filters out potentially malicious input characters and ensures proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering in administrative contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper input sanitization libraries, and conducting regular security code reviews can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both server-side input validation and client-side output encoding to prevent XSS exploitation in administrative interfaces.