CVE-2004-1566 in Silent Storm
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Silent Storm Portal 2.1 and 2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script or HTML via the module parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2019
The CVE-2004-1566 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Silent Storm Portal content management system version 2.1 and 2.2. This vulnerability resides in the index.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The specific parameter affected is the module parameter which is directly incorporated into the web page output without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security issues. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the module parameter. When a victim accesses this crafted URL, the vulnerable application includes the malicious input directly in the HTML response without proper sanitization. This creates a situation where the victim's browser executes the injected script as if it originated from the legitimate portal. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core application logic where module parameters are used to determine which components should be loaded and displayed. The lack of input validation and output encoding creates an attack surface where any user-controllable parameter can be leveraged to inject malicious content. This vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where input is trusted without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1566 extends beyond simple script injection to potentially compromise entire user sessions and sensitive data. When exploited successfully, attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify web page content, or perform actions that appear to originate from legitimate users. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected Silent Storm Portal versions, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators and regular users share the same platform. This type of vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or social engineering techniques that encourage users to click on malicious links. The attack chain typically involves the attacker crafting a malicious URL with embedded scripts, distributing it through various channels, and waiting for unsuspecting users to click the link, thereby executing the attacker's code in their browser context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-controllable parameters before they are processed or displayed in web responses. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any data that will be rendered in web pages, which prevents script execution even if malicious content is present. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially dangerous characters. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for input validation and output encoding as fundamental security measures in web application development, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on preventing code injection attacks through proper input sanitization. Organizations should also ensure that all web applications are regularly updated with security patches and that development teams receive proper security training to avoid similar issues in future implementations.