CVE-2002-1651 in Search97
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Verity Search97 allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary web content and steal sensitive information from other clients, possibly due to certain error messages from template pages that use the (1) vformat or (2) vfilter functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The CVE-2002-1651 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Verity Search97 software that enables remote attackers to inject malicious web content into vulnerable applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of error messages within template pages that utilize the vformat and vfilter functions, creating a pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the search engine's template processing system, where error messages containing unescaped user-supplied data are directly rendered to web clients without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers submit malicious input through search queries or form fields that are processed by the Verity Search97 engine. When the system encounters errors during template processing, particularly when using the vformat or vfilter functions, error messages containing the malicious input are rendered to the victim's browser without appropriate HTML escaping or sanitization. This creates a classic XSS attack vector where the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information from unsuspecting users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate error reporting mechanisms within the software, making it more difficult to detect and prevent.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1651 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack scenarios including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the vulnerability to steal authentication tokens, personal information, or business data from users who interact with compromised search applications. The vulnerability affects organizations using Verity Search97 in web applications, potentially compromising entire user bases if the affected systems are accessible to external users. The impact is particularly severe in environments where sensitive data is processed through search functions, as the vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566 for credential access through exploitation of web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data processed by the search engine, particularly when using the vformat and vfilter functions. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all template variables and error messages before rendering them to users, implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and restricting the use of potentially dangerous template functions in public-facing applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and conduct thorough security assessments of all search-based applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in web applications, particularly in legacy systems that may not have been designed with modern security considerations in mind. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to address the underlying flaw, while network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.