CVE-2017-7204 in imdbphp
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) was discovered in imdbphp 5.1.1. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient filtration of user-supplied data (name) passed to the "imdbphp-master/demo/search.php" URL. An attacker could execute arbitrary HTML and script code in a browser in the context of the vulnerable website.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7204 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the imdbphp 5.1.1 web application framework. This security weakness resides in the demo search functionality where user input is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the search.php endpoint within the imdbphp-master directory structure, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate the name parameter through HTTP requests. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject client-side scripts that execute within the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially compromising the integrity of the web application and its users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the application's codebase. When users submit search queries through the vulnerable interface, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This insufficient sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates at the user-facing interface level, making it easily exploitable through standard web browser interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the web application. Attackers could craft malicious search queries that, when processed by the vulnerable application, would execute in the browser context of any user who views the results or interacts with the compromised page. This creates a persistent threat vector where even benign users could become unwitting participants in malicious activities. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting languages such as JavaScript, and T1531, which addresses tampering with application execution. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the application serves sensitive user data or where users may have elevated privileges within the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7204 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should implement strict sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web pages, utilizing libraries or built-in functions that properly escape HTML entities and JavaScript code. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and employing proper input validation frameworks that can identify and neutralize potentially malicious payloads. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version of imdbphp that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original 5.1.1 release contains known security flaws that have been documented in the security community. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the web application stack.