CVE-2004-2444 in Jaws
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Jaws 0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2444 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Jaws 0.3 content management system. This security weakness resides within the index.php script and specifically targets the action parameter handling mechanism. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct threat to web application security and user data integrity. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Jaws 0.3 framework. When the action parameter is processed through the index.php script, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This processing gap creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious payloads that will be executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer, targeting the web interface directly and bypassing traditional network-level security controls.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web pages, or even execute unauthorized administrative actions if the targeted users possess elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Jaws 0.3 system, potentially compromising the entire content management infrastructure. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if attackers can leverage it to gain access to administrative interfaces or sensitive data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attack patterns, while also ensuring that all user inputs undergo strict validation before being processed by the application. The remediation process must include comprehensive code review to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters and functions, as this represents a systemic issue within the application's data handling architecture. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify additional weaknesses that could be exploited in conjunction with XSS vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.002 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting how web applications must properly validate and sanitize all inputs to prevent malicious code execution.