CVE-2004-1075 in Zwiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in standard_error_message.dtml for Zwiki after 0.10.0rc1 to 0.36.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via a malformed URL, which is not properly cleansed when generating an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1075 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Zwiki web application framework that affects versions between 0.10.0rc1 and 0.36.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the standard_error_message.dtml component which handles error reporting within the application. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly cleanse user-supplied data before incorporating it into error message generation. When a malformed URL is processed by the system, the application does not adequately filter or escape the malicious input, creating an avenue for attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code directly into the error response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users without proper validation or escaping. In the context of Zwiki, the standard_error_message.dtml template serves as the vulnerable component where user input flows directly into the generated HTML output without appropriate sanitization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious URLs that contain script tags or other HTML elements that will be executed in the browser context of victims who encounter the error page. This particular vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web server and client browsers, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute persistent attacks against the application's user base. When users encounter error pages generated by the vulnerable Zwiki installation, they unknowingly execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to complete compromise of their browser sessions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently in the background, with victims experiencing normal application behavior while unknowingly exposing themselves to malicious code execution. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions without requiring additional authentication or privileged access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1075 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the standard_error_message.dtml template. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into any HTML output, with particular attention to error message generation routines. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive HTML escaping for all dynamic content within error pages, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of Zwiki that address this specific vulnerability would provide the most effective long-term solution. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications, as this type of injection flaw represents a common pattern that can occur across various web frameworks and applications.