CVE-2010-5052 in GetSimple
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/components.php in GetSimple CMS 2.01 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the val[] parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The CVE-2010-5052 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in GetSimple CMS version 2.01 within the admin/components.php file. This vulnerability specifically targets the val[] parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious input manipulation. The flaw exists in the administrative interface of the content management system, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass standard user authentication mechanisms and directly target administrators or privileged users who interact with the component management functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the components.php administrative script. When the system processes the val[] parameter without proper filtering or encoding of user-supplied data, it fails to distinguish between legitimate administrative commands and malicious script code. This fundamental flaw enables attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that gets executed in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS attack where malicious payloads are embedded in URL parameters and executed when administrators view the affected component listings.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5052 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts in the context of an administrator's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where administrative users frequently interact with component management features, as it requires minimal user interaction to exploit. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by an administrator, automatically execute the payload without requiring any additional user actions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attacks that leverage web-based vulnerabilities. The flaw represents a common oversight in web application security where developers fail to properly validate and sanitize user inputs before they are processed or displayed. Organizations using GetSimple CMS 2.01 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and parameter sanitization. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation for the val[] parameter, applying proper HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, administrators should be educated about the risks of clicking suspicious links and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.