CVE-2020-10475 in PHPKB Standard Multi-Language
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in admin/manage-tickets.php in Chadha PHPKB Standard Multi-Language 9 allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the GET parameter sort.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10475 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the Chadha PHPKB Standard Multi-Language version 9 content management system. This security weakness specifically affects the admin/manage-tickets.php administrative interface component, where improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes the GET parameter named 'sort' without sufficient sanitization measures, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters, specifically targeting the sort parameter in the manage-tickets.php endpoint. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the sort parameter and persuades a victim administrator to click the link, the malicious payload gets reflected back in the web application's response and subsequently executed in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a common web application security flaw where untrusted data is directly included in web pages without proper validation or encoding. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script code is not stored on the server but is instead reflected off the web server in response to the user's request, making it particularly dangerous for administrative interfaces where privileged users are likely to interact with the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly given that it affects an administrative interface component. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator's browser session, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attacker could perform actions such as viewing sensitive administrative data, modifying ticket information, creating new administrative accounts, or even executing commands on the underlying server. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for phishing with malicious attachments, as the attack often requires social engineering to convince administrators to click malicious links. The administrative context of the vulnerability increases the potential damage significantly, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, system configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves implementing strict input validation for the sort parameter, ensuring that only predefined, safe values are accepted and that any potentially malicious input is properly escaped or encoded before being rendered in the web page. This approach aligns with the principle of defense in depth as outlined in security frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, where multiple layers of protection are implemented to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and prevent unauthorized code execution. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw is often present in web applications that fail to implement consistent input sanitization practices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of the OWASP Top Ten security practices, particularly the need for proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks. Regular updates and patches should be implemented immediately upon vendor release of fixes, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to administrative interfaces.