CVE-2004-1648 in Password Protect
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in (1) index.asp, (2) ChangePassword.asp, (3) users_list.asp, (4) and users_add.asp in Password Protect allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ShowMsg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Password Protect web application where multiple.asp files fail to properly sanitize user input. The flaw specifically affects index.asp, ChangePassword.asp, users_list.asp, and users_add.asp components that all accept the ShowMsg parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious javascript code or html content through the vulnerable parameter, enabling them to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing malicious payloads to be stored or reflected in the application's response, thereby compromising the security of authenticated users who interact with the affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. This weakness creates a persistent security risk that enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the web application's integrity by allowing unauthorized code execution within user browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and sensitive data exposure. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or data exfiltration through the compromised browser contexts.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are significant for organizations using the Password Protect application, as it creates an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication or privileged access. Users who visit pages containing malicious ShowMsg parameters become unwitting participants in the attack, with their browsers executing injected scripts that can access session cookies, capture keystrokes, or redirect them to phishing sites. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the application handles sensitive user information or authentication data, as it can be leveraged to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it a popular target for automated exploitation tools and script kiddies.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding across all affected application components. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the ShowMsg parameter, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and using proper HTML encoding functions can significantly reduce the risk of script execution in user contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege by restricting the functionality available through the vulnerable parameters and ensuring that all input is validated against a strict whitelist of acceptable characters. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while also ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. The remediation process should include thorough testing to verify that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the application's core security posture.