CVE-2004-0046 in PVS LITE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SnapStream PVS LITE allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a GET request containing a terminating " (double quote) character.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0046 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the SnapStream PVS LITE application, a media streaming solution that was widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. This particular weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through GET requests, specifically when processing parameters that contain double quote characters. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the injection of malicious code into web applications, making it a critical concern for web application security. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that were prevalent in web applications of that era, particularly highlighting the absence of proper sanitization mechanisms for user-supplied data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious GET requests containing a terminating double quote character that bypasses the application's input validation routines. When the application processes this malformed input without proper sanitization, it inadvertently incorporates the malicious script or HTML code into the web response sent to unsuspecting users. The double quote character serves as a delimiter in many web contexts, and its improper handling can lead to script execution within the victim's browser context. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through simple web browser navigation or crafted links. The attack vector is classified as a reflected XSS vulnerability since the malicious payload is reflected off the web server back to the user's browser, with the payload being executed in the context of the victim's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised user's browser session. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even install malware through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a media streaming application like PVS LITE could have been particularly damaging since such systems often contain sensitive enterprise data and may be accessed by privileged users. The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics through malicious links, and T1059 which encompasses script injection techniques. Organizations running this software were exposed to potential privilege escalation attacks if the application was used by users with elevated access rights.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters including double quotes, angle brackets, and other HTML metacharacters before processing or displaying them. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers by restricting script execution and controlling resource loading. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses, particularly in legacy applications that may not have been designed with modern security practices in mind. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls.