CVE-2004-2171 in httpd
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cherokee before 0.4.8 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URL, which is not properly quoted in the resulting error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2171 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Cherokee web server software prior to version 0.4.8. This vulnerability resides in the server's error handling mechanism where user-supplied URL parameters are inadequately sanitized before being rendered in error messages. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the web server encounters malformed URLs and displays error pages that fail to properly escape or quote the URL parameters, creating an opening for attackers to inject malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Cherokee server's error reporting functionality. When a malformed URL is processed, the server includes the raw URL parameter values directly into the error page without proper HTML entity encoding or sanitization. This creates a condition where attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed when the error page is displayed. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in handling user input within server-side error messages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a URL that, when visited, displays an error page containing a malicious script that steals cookies or session tokens from the victim's browser. This weakness particularly affects web applications relying on Cherokee as their web server where user input flows through URL parameters into error handling routines. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages client-side browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2171 primarily involve upgrading to Cherokee version 0.4.8 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation at all points where user data enters the system, particularly in URL parameter handling and error reporting mechanisms. Additionally, deploying proper HTML escaping and encoding techniques for all dynamic content in error messages prevents script injection regardless of the underlying software version. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring systems to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves ensuring that all URL parameters are properly quoted and escaped before being rendered in error pages, following established secure coding practices for web application development.