CVE-2021-40541 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

PHPFusion 9.03.110 is affected by a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability, allowing authenticated users to trigger XSS by manipulating the text.

Understanding CVE-2021-40541

PHPFusion 9.03.110 contains a vulnerability that enables a specific XSS attack when handling text within the preg patterns filter html tag in the descript() function.

What is CVE-2021-40541?

The identified vulnerability in PHPFusion 9.03.110 permits an authenticated user to execute cross-site scripting by adding "//" to the end of a text.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40541

This XSS vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users to perform various malicious actions, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40541

PHPFusion 9.03.110 has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the improper handling of text within the preg patterns filter html tag in the descript() function, allowing for XSS attacks through crafted input.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: 9.03.110

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability involves appending "//" to the end of the text, triggering the XSS attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-40541, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement input validation to sanitize user-generated content.
Update PHPFusion to a patched version.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and code reviews.
Train users on safe browsing habits and identifying phishing attempts.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from PHPFusion.
Apply patches promptly to mitigate known vulnerabilities.