CVE-2010-5284 in Collabtive
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Collabtive 0.6.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) User parameter in the edit user profile feature to manageuser.php, (2) y parameter in a newcal action to manageajax.php, and the (3) pic parameter to thumb.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5284 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Collabtive version 0.6.5, a web-based project management application. This vulnerability manifests across three distinct attack vectors within the application's user interface and administrative functions, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The affected parameters include the User parameter in manageuser.php, the y parameter in manageajax.php, and the pic parameter in thumb.php, each representing different functional areas of the application's web interface.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Collabtive application's handling of user-supplied data. When users interact with the application's profile management features, calendar functions, or thumbnail generation processes, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided input before rendering it back to the browser. This lack of proper data sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed within the browser context of legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to distinguish between executable code and benign user data, allowing attackers to inject malicious javascript payloads that can persist across user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application. When an authenticated user visits a page containing malicious script injected through one of the vulnerable parameters, the script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify user profiles, or gain unauthorized access to project data. The three distinct attack vectors increase the attack surface significantly, as each parameter represents a separate opportunity for exploitation. The User parameter in manageuser.php suggests that profile modification functions are particularly vulnerable, while the y parameter in manageajax.php indicates that dynamic calendar functionality poses a risk, and the pic parameter in thumb.php reveals that image thumbnail generation processes are also compromised.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security weaknesses. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1566, specifically targeting the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations using Collabtive 0.6.5 should immediately implement input sanitization measures, including the implementation of strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper parameter validation, using context-specific output encoding, and applying the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive input validation across all application interfaces and highlights the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate potential attack vectors before they can be exploited by malicious actors.