# CVE-2002-2255: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_username parameter in phpBB's search.php, potentially compromising user sessions.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2007
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cp55-952w-w99v

## What is CVE-2002-2255?

CVE-2002-2255 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Oct 2007. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in phpBB 2.0.3 and possibly earlier versions allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_username parameter in searchuser mode.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2002-2255?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phpbb Phpbb.

## How do I fix CVE-2002-2255?

No fix has been published for CVE-2002-2255 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2002-2255 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2002-2255 exists.

Public exploit code:

- phpBB 2.0.3 - 'search.php' Cross-Site Scripting (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2008-3224](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3224/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-1766](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1766/): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in phpBB before 3.0.1 have unknown impact and attack vectors, related to "two minor security-related bu (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2025-70810](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-70810/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2001-1471](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-1471/): Code injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-29199](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-29199/): phpBB has Password Reset Link Poisoning via Host Header injection (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2002-2255 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2002-2255 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Oct 2007. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2002-2255 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2255/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2255/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2002-2255
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-2255
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2002-2255

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2255/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.