CVE-2023-40751 in Fundraising Script
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2023
PHPJabbers Fundraising Script v1.0 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) via the "action" parameter of index.php.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2026
The PHPJabbers Fundraising Script version 1.0 contains a critical cross site scripting vulnerability that exposes users to potential malicious attacks through improper input validation. This vulnerability specifically affects the action parameter within the index.php file, creating an entry point for attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's web interface. The flaw represents a classic XSS vulnerability that allows threat actors to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used to control application behavior through the action parameter. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which directly enables malicious script execution within the victim's browser environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages a fundamental parameter that controls core application functionality, making it an attractive target for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that get executed when the application processes the action parameter without proper validation or encoding. When a user navigates to a specially crafted URL containing malicious script code within the action parameter, the script executes in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying the application's behavior. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input flows directly into the web response without appropriate sanitization measures. This creates a persistent threat where the malicious code can be stored and executed repeatedly whenever the vulnerable page is accessed. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves phishing attacks through malicious scripts, and T1059.007 which covers script-based execution through web interfaces. The attack requires minimal sophistication to exploit and can be automated through various means including social engineering campaigns or direct URL manipulation.
Organizations utilizing PHPJabbers Fundraising Script version 1.0 face significant operational risks due to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where sensitive fundraising data is processed or where user authentication is required. The exposure creates potential pathways for attackers to gain unauthorized access to donor information, financial records, or administrative controls within the application. The vulnerability's presence in a fundraising platform increases the risk of financial fraud, data breaches, and reputational damage that could severely impact the organization's operations and stakeholder trust. Users may unknowingly execute malicious scripts when accessing the application, leading to compromised sessions and potential data loss. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through session hijacking techniques, enabling long-term surveillance or data manipulation. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their overall security posture, particularly regarding web application security controls and input validation measures. The impact is amplified in environments where the application serves multiple users or processes sensitive information, as the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise multiple accounts or access extensive data repositories. Organizations should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement appropriate remediation measures to protect their systems and data integrity.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection into the application's response. The primary solution requires updating the PHPJabbers Fundraising Script to a patched version that properly sanitizes the action parameter before processing user input. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation that rejects or encodes any input containing potentially dangerous script characters or patterns. The implementation should follow secure coding practices that include input sanitization, output encoding, and proper context-aware escaping of user-supplied data. Security measures should also include content security policy (CSP) headers that limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security testing including dynamic application security testing (DAST) and static application security testing (SAST) to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. The remediation process should involve comprehensive code review to ensure all parameter handling follows secure development practices and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the application. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be established to prevent future vulnerabilities from being introduced through outdated or unpatched components. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning capabilities for security incidents related to this vulnerability.