CVE-2003-0413 in One Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the webapps-simple sample application for (1) Sun ONE Application Server 7.0 for Windows 2000/XP or (2) Sun Java System Web Server 6.1 allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary web script or HTML via an HTTP request that generates an "Invalid JSP file" error, which inserts the text in the resulting error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
This vulnerability exists within the webapps-simple sample application distributed with Sun ONE Application Server 7.0 and Sun Java System Web Server 6.1, specifically affecting Windows 2000 and XP operating systems. The flaw manifests when an HTTP request is processed that triggers an "Invalid JSP file" error condition, creating a cross-site scripting opportunity where malicious input is directly embedded into the error message output without proper sanitization or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the error handling mechanism of the web server software. When a malformed JSP request is submitted, the system generates an error message that includes the raw user input from the HTTP request parameters, thereby allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where the malicious payload travels from the attacker to the victim through the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors through more sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability affects a significant portion of the web application server market during that era, particularly in enterprise environments where these Sun products were commonly deployed. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users have administrative privileges, as the injected scripts could potentially compromise entire systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation at all entry points, including the use of output encoding for error messages and user-supplied content. Organizations should ensure that error messages do not contain raw user input and should implement comprehensive content security policies. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for phishing with malicious content. The remediation approach should include upgrading to patched versions of the affected software, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components.