CVE-2004-0305 in Webstores 2000
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in error.asp in WebCortex WebStores 2000 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script as other users and steal session IDs via the Message_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0305 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WebCortex WebStores 2000 6.0 web application framework. This security weakness resides in the error.asp component, which serves as an error handling mechanism for the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the Message_id parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized before being rendered back to users in the web interface. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, creating a severe security risk for the entire web application ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input from the Message_id parameter is not adequately escaped or filtered before being displayed in the error.asp page. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability enables session hijacking attacks where attackers can steal session cookies or other authentication tokens, effectively allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to their accounts and privileges within the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions within the WebCortex WebStores environment. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can not only steal session IDs but also potentially access sensitive user data, modify transactions, and perform unauthorized administrative functions depending on the application's permission model. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system or network. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1531 category, which focuses on 'Modify Application Runtime Environment' and T1071.004 'Application Layer Protocol: DNS', as attackers can leverage the compromised sessions to maintain persistence and escalate privileges within the application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the web application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, by implementing proper HTML encoding and validation routines. The WebCortex WebStores 2000 6.0 application should be updated to properly escape special characters in the Message_id parameter before rendering it in the error.asp page. Additionally, implementing a content security policy (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Organizations should also consider implementing proper session management practices including secure cookie attributes, session timeout mechanisms, and regular session regeneration to limit the window of opportunity for attackers who might successfully exploit this vulnerability. The most appropriate long-term solution involves upgrading to a supported version of the WebCortex WebStores framework that addresses this known vulnerability and incorporates modern security practices for input validation and output encoding.