CVE-2004-1665 in PsNews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in PsNews 1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the no parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1665 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the PsNews 1.1 content management system, specifically affecting the index.php script. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses that have been consistently documented in security frameworks and standards. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input received through the 'no' parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the PsNews application. When a user submits data through the 'no' parameter in the index.php script, the application processes this input without adequate sanitization measures. This processing allows attackers to embed malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to users through the application's response, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve dynamic content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the application's integrity and the security of its users. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as malicious scripts could potentially modify content displayed to users, leading to reputation damage and potential financial losses. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves the use of malicious scripts to compromise web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through various methods including crafting malicious URLs with embedded script payloads or using automated tools that can identify and exploit such weaknesses. Organizations using PsNews 1.1 should consider immediate remediation actions including input validation, output encoding, and implementing proper security headers. The recommended mitigations involve sanitizing all user inputs, implementing Content Security Policies, and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped before being rendered in web browsers. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application stack, as this represents a common class of flaws that have been documented in numerous web applications over the years.