CVE-2004-1712 in TypePad
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in TypePad allows remote attackers inject arbitrary Javascript via the name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The CVE-2004-1712 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed within the TypePad blogging platform, a widely used web-based publishing service at the time. This vulnerability specifically targeted the name parameter handling mechanism within the application's input validation processes, creating a significant security exposure that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of users' browsers. The vulnerability emerged from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data, particularly affecting the name parameter that was commonly used in various forms and comment sections throughout the platform's interface.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input received through the name parameter, which was typically used in user profile information, comment forms, and other interactive elements. When users submitted data containing malicious javascript payloads through this parameter, the application would process and display the content without adequate filtering or encoding mechanisms. This processing allowed attackers to inject javascript code that would execute in the browsers of other users who viewed the affected content, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector. The vulnerability was classified as a reflected XSS issue since the malicious code was immediately reflected back to users without being stored on the server, though the impact extended beyond simple reflection to include potential persistent storage scenarios depending on how the application handled the data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was substantial as it enabled remote attackers to compromise user sessions, steal cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, and potentially gain access to sensitive user information. Attackers could craft malicious URLs or posts containing javascript payloads that would execute whenever legitimate users viewed the affected content, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability particularly affected the platform's user community since TypePad was widely used for personal and professional blogging, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to exploit user trust and engagement. This flaw could have been leveraged to spread malware, conduct phishing attacks, or harvest user credentials, significantly undermining user confidence in the platform's security measures. The vulnerability also demonstrated the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, as it highlighted how simple parameter handling flaws could create widespread security implications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability would have required implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly focusing on the name parameter handling and all user-supplied input fields. The recommended approach would involve sanitizing all user input through proper encoding techniques such as html entity encoding, implementing strict input validation rules, and utilizing secure coding practices that prevent javascript execution in contexts where it should not occur. Organizations should have deployed web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, implemented content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducted regular security testing including dynamic and static analysis to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and the attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under web application attacks, particularly focusing on the execution of malicious code through input manipulation. The remediation efforts would have required comprehensive code reviews, security training for development teams, and the implementation of secure coding standards that prevent such injection vulnerabilities from occurring in future releases.