CVE-2003-0763 in Escapade Scripting Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Escapade Scripting Engine (ESP) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary script via the method parameter, as demonstrated using the PAGE parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2025
The CVE-2003-0763 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Escapade Scripting Engine (ESP) that exposes web applications to malicious script injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the method parameter handling within the ESP framework, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of affected user browsers. The exploit demonstrates its potency through the PAGE parameter manipulation, which serves as the primary injection vector for crafting malicious payloads.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a reflected XSS attack pattern where malicious scripts are reflected off web servers back to users. The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ESP processing pipeline. When the system receives a method parameter containing unescaped script content, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web response, thereby allowing attacker-controlled code execution within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through simple HTTP requests that manipulate the PAGE parameter to include malicious JavaScript code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, defacement of web pages, redirection to malicious sites, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The reflected nature of the attack means that victims must be tricked into clicking on malicious links, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability affects any web application utilizing the Escapade Scripting Engine framework, potentially compromising thousands of websites and applications that rely on this legacy technology.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0763 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices that align with the OWASP Secure Coding practices. Organizations must ensure all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like method and PAGE, undergo strict sanitization before processing or rendering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and regular input validation routines can effectively prevent this class of vulnerability. Additionally, the ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for script-based execution, emphasizing the need for network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through framework updates or complete migration away from the affected Escapade Scripting Engine to prevent exploitation by modern attack vectors.