# CVE-2009-2820: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute cross-site scripting and HTTP response splitting attacks via the CUPS web interface, potentially stealing session data or modifying responses.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Nov 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2009-2820, DSA-1933-1, GHSA-hmf5-7mhf-fpjh

## What is CVE-2009-2820?

CVE-2009-2820 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 10 Nov 2009. 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

The web interface in CUPS before 1.4.2, as used on Apple Mac OS X before 10.6.2 and other platforms, does not properly handle (1) HTTP headers and (2) HTML templates, which allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks and HTTP response splitting attacks via vectors related to (a) the product's web interface, (b) the configuration of the print system, and (c) the titles of printed jobs, as demonstrated by an XSS attack that uses the kerberos parameter to the admin program, and leverages attribute injection and HTTP Parameter Pollution (HPP) issues.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-2820?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-2820?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2009-2820 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-2820 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CUPS - 'kerberos' Cross-Site Scripting (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-2820 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-2820 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 10 Nov 2009. 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-2009-2820 exists.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. 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-2009-2820/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2820/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-2820
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2820
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-2820

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2820/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.