CVE-2004-1729 in Web Log Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Nihuo Web Log Analyzer 1.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the User-Agent HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The CVE-2004-1729 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Nihuo Web Log Analyzer version 1.6, demonstrating a critical security oversight in web application input validation. This vulnerability specifically targets the User-Agent HTTP header, which is a standard component of HTTP requests that typically contains information about the client software making the request. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input from this header before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the web log analyzer application. When the application processes HTTP requests containing malicious User-Agent headers, it directly incorporates this unvalidated data into web page content without proper sanitization mechanisms. This creates a persistent XSS vector where attackers can craft specially formatted User-Agent strings containing JavaScript payloads that execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected web pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering, automated scanning tools, or direct injection techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web log analysis environments where user access is typically granted to authorized personnel only. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the application's security context. The implications extend beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation or complete compromise of the web log analysis system. Given that web log analyzers often process sensitive traffic data and may be accessible to multiple users, the potential for widespread impact increases significantly.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and script injection. Organizations using Nihuo Web Log Analyzer 1.6 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all HTTP headers, particularly the User-Agent field. Recommended solutions include implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms, employing input sanitization filters, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious User-Agent patterns. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of the software or migrating to more secure alternatives represents the most effective long-term solution to address this vulnerability and prevent exploitation attempts.