CVE-2026-50740 in Adserver
Summary
by MITRE • 06/26/2026
A missing sanitisation vulnerability of user input in the zone-include.php script exists in Revive Adserver 6.0.7 and earlier. A low‑privileged user could exploit the refresh parameter of the iFrame invocation tag to perform reflected XSS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2026
The vulnerability under examination represents a critical security flaw within the Revive Adserver platform affecting versions 6.0.7 and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms in the zone-include.php script, which processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization procedures. The exposed parameter named refresh within the iFrame invocation tag serves as the primary attack vector for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical execution of this reflected cross-site scripting attack occurs when a low-privileged user crafts malicious input containing script code within the refresh parameter of the iFrame invocation tag. When the vulnerable application processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious payload gets reflected back to the victim's browser context. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed through social engineering tactics where victims are tricked into clicking on malicious links containing the crafted payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it undermines the fundamental security model of the ad server platform. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially compromising sensitive advertising data and campaign configurations. The reflected nature of the attack means that victims must be tricked into visiting malicious URLs containing the crafted payloads, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently click on links from untrusted sources. This vulnerability also impacts the integrity of the ad server's content delivery mechanisms, as it allows attackers to inject malicious code that could affect advertising impressions and revenue generation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input sanitization measures within the zone-include.php script. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Organizations should deploy proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from executing in browser contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against reflected XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for defensive measures that focus on preventing code execution through web-based attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect anomalous patterns in user input that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly focusing on the prevention of XSS vulnerabilities through comprehensive sanitization procedures.