CVE-2004-1845 in News Manager Lite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in News Manager Lite 2.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) email parameter to comment_add.asp, (2) search parameter to search.asp, or (3) n parameter to category_news_headline.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1845 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting News Manager Lite version 2.5, a web-based content management system designed for news publishing and user interaction. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input across three distinct script endpoints, creating multiple attack vectors that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The vulnerability falls under the category of persistent XSS attacks, where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the News Manager Lite application. Specifically, the email parameter in comment_add.asp fails to properly escape or filter special characters, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes when other users view the comment. Similarly, the search parameter in search.asp and the n parameter in category_news_headline.asp demonstrate the same insufficient sanitization practices, where user input directly influences dynamic content generation without proper security measures. These flaws align with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as the injection of malicious code into web applications, and CWE-80 which addresses the failure to sanitize output that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for both end users and system administrators. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify displayed content, or even execute administrative functions if the targeted users have elevated privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects core functionality components including user comments, search capabilities, and category navigation, meaning that any user interacting with the application could potentially become a victim. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability represents a technique for gaining initial access through web application attacks, while T1531 focuses on the use of malicious scripts to manipulate web content and compromise user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1845 must address the fundamental input validation failures within the News Manager Lite application. The primary remediation involves implementing comprehensive output encoding and input sanitization across all user-supplied parameters, ensuring that any special characters are properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Security patches should enforce strict validation of email addresses, search queries, and category identifiers to prevent script injection attempts. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and establish proper HTTPOnly flags for session cookies to prevent JavaScript-based cookie theft. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit these vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten, particularly in addressing injection flaws that remain among the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses.