CVE-2011-4273 in Webserver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in GoAhead Webserver 2.18 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the group parameter to goform/AddGroup, related to addgroup.asp; (2) the url parameter to goform/AddAccessLimit, related to addlimit.asp; or the (3) user (aka User ID) or (4) group parameter to goform/AddUser, related to adduser.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
The CVE-2011-4273 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the GoAhead Webserver version 2.18, specifically affecting web applications that utilize the goform framework for user management and access control functions. This vulnerability resides in the server's handling of user-supplied input parameters within three distinct administrative endpoints, creating multiple attack vectors that could be exploited by remote malicious actors. The affected parameters include the group parameter in the AddGroup function, the url parameter in AddAccessLimit, and both user (User ID) and group parameters in the AddUser function, each corresponding to specific.asp files within the web application's administrative interface. These vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code and submits it through any of the vulnerable parameters in the designated forms. The GoAhead Webserver fails to properly sanitize or encode the input data before incorporating it into the web page response, allowing the injected scripts to execute in the context of the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where authenticated users who view the affected pages could unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects administrative functions that are typically protected by authentication mechanisms, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain full control over the web server's user management capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4273 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the web application environment. An attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious websites, steal session cookies, or manipulate user accounts to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's administrative functions, potentially compromising the entire security posture of systems relying on GoAhead Webserver 2.18. Given that this vulnerability affects core user management functionality, it could enable attackers to create new user accounts with administrative privileges, modify existing user permissions, or establish persistent access points within the web application infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and represents a significant concern for organizations running legacy web applications that have not been updated to address this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4273 require immediate attention and should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks. Organizations should implement proper parameter sanitization for all user-supplied inputs, particularly those used in administrative functions and form processing. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of GoAhead Webserver that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version 2.18 is no longer supported and lacks security updates. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input validation filters, and output encoding measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual administrative activities and anomalous user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of web applications using legacy components are essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date web server software and implementing robust input validation practices to prevent common web application security flaws.