CVE-2004-0678 in Chat Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) in one2planet.infolet.InfoServlet in 12Planet Chat Server 2.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbirary script as other users via the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0678 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the 12Planet Chat Server 2.9 application, specifically affecting the one2planet.infolet.InfoServlet component. This security weakness resides in the server-side processing of user input through the page parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS attack vector where unvalidated user input flows directly into the web application's output without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms, allowing attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the page parameter to the vulnerable InfoServlet endpoint. When the server processes this input and returns it to the user's browser without adequate input validation or output encoding, the embedded script executes in the victim's browser context with the privileges of the authenticated user. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and it maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the chat server environment. Users who view the malicious page parameter content become unwitting participants in the attack, with their browsers executing the injected scripts as if they originated from legitimate sources. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the chat server, potentially allowing attackers to access private conversations, impersonate users, or modify chat server configurations. Given that this was a server-side application vulnerability, the attack surface encompasses all users who interact with the chat server's information display functionality, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where chat communications are shared across organizations or communities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the 12Planet Chat Server application. The primary fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through the page parameter before processing or returning it to users, implementing proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and establishing a robust input validation framework that rejects malicious payloads. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in web applications, particularly the principle of least privilege and defense in depth. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses, while application developers should follow secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.