CVE-2001-1350 in Namazu
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in namazu.cgi for Namazu 2.0.7 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Javascript as other web users via the lang parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1350 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the namazu.cgi web application component of Namazu search software versions 2.0.7 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms and specifically targets the lang parameter which is used to determine the language interface for the search application. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other web users who interact with the vulnerable application, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the namazu.cgi script. When the lang parameter is processed without proper validation or encoding, malicious payloads can be seamlessly integrated into the application's response. This occurs because the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable javascript code. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts a specially formatted URL containing malicious javascript within the lang parameter, which when executed in a victim's browser context can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying application behavior. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as the failure to properly escape output data, and falls under the broader category of CWE-116 which addresses improper encoding of output during web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1350 extends beyond simple script execution as it fundamentally undermines user trust in the web application and can lead to significant security breaches. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to impersonate legitimate users within the application context, potentially accessing sensitive information or performing unauthorized operations. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or authentication to exploit, making it highly accessible to threat actors. In practical scenarios, this vulnerability could result in session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the deployment of additional malware through infected user browsers. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload continues to affect users until the application is patched or the vulnerable parameter is properly sanitized.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1350 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Namazu software to version 2.0.8 or later which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques including the use of output encoding when rendering user-supplied data, particularly for parameters like lang that are used to control application behavior. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the execution of inline scripts and limiting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL patterns and parameter values that might indicate attempted exploitation. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify and alert on known attack signatures associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, web application firewalls can be deployed to filter malicious payloads before they reach the vulnerable application. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1566 which describes social engineering techniques including spearphishing with a payload, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter techniques, making it a critical target for both preventive and detective security controls.