CVE-2019-7660 in PHPMyWind
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PHPMyWind 5.5. The username parameter of the /install/index.php page has a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, as demonstrated by admin/login.php.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7660 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within PHPMyWind version 5.5, specifically affecting the installation component of the web application. This vulnerability resides in the username parameter handling within the /install/index.php page, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's user interface. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or complete compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability's presence in the installation phase of the application is particularly concerning as it provides an early entry point for attackers to establish persistent malicious presence before the application reaches its operational state.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the PHPMyWind installation process. When the username parameter is submitted through the installation interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before storing it within the application's database or configuration files. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and displayed in the admin/login.php page without proper HTML escaping or context-aware output encoding, creating the conditions for malicious scripts to execute when legitimate users access the login interface. The vulnerability follows the CWE-79 classification for cross-site scripting, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload is permanently stored within the application's data storage and executed on subsequent page requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, modify application behavior, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server if additional vulnerabilities exist. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload persists and affects all users who access the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve multiple users or administrators. The vulnerability's presence in the installation phase also suggests that attackers may be able to manipulate the application's configuration or database setup process, potentially leading to more severe consequences such as privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
Organizations utilizing PHPMyWind 5.5 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability through comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization practices. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation on all user-supplied parameters, including the username field, through the use of allowlists or regular expressions that restrict input to expected character sets. Additionally, output encoding should be applied consistently when displaying user-provided data in web pages, particularly in contexts where HTML content is rendered. The application should also implement proper content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and all user inputs should be properly escaped before being stored or displayed in administrative interfaces. System administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns, while also ensuring that all PHPMyWind installations are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. This remediation effort aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, and follows security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.