Description
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities (XSS) in bonsai Mozilla CVS query tool allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script via (1) the file, root, or rev parameters to cvslog.cgi, (2) the file or root parameters to cvsblame.cgi, (3) various parameters to cvsquery.cgi, (4) the person parameter to showcheckins.cgi, (5) the module parameter to cvsqueryform.cgi, and (6) possibly other attack vectors as identified by Mozilla bug #146244.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.0 | bonsai | 1.3+cvs20020224-1woody1 | DSA-265 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- Mozilla Bonsai - Multiple Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerabilities EDB-21729 · webapps · Aug 20, 2002 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-265 bonsai - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/attachment.cgi?id=95985&action=view
- http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/attachment.cgi?id=95950&action=view
- 5516 vdb-entry
- bonsai-error-message-xss(9920) vdb-entry
- 20020819 Advisory: Bonsai XSS and Physical Path Revealing Vulnerabilities mailing-list
- http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=163573
- DSA-265 vendor-advisory
- http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=146244