CVE-2004-2522 in Gattaca Server 2003
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in web.tmpl in Gattaca Server 2003 1.1.10.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) template or (2) language parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The CVE-2004-2522 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Gattaca Server 2003 version 1.1.10.0 web interface. This vulnerability exists within the web.tmpl component and specifically targets two input parameters: template and language. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code, creating a persistent security risk for any system utilizing this vulnerable server implementation. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. This issue demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the server's template processing functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from the template or language parameters is directly incorporated into web page responses without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable server, execute within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a dangerous scenario where legitimate users may unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as those targeting the attacker's own system through the victim's browser context. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core server functionality that likely handles user requests and template rendering for web-based applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Gattaca Server 2003, as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or any special privileges to exploit this flaw. The vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent malicious content that affects all users interacting with the vulnerable web interface. This represents a critical security gap that could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or unauthorized access to application functionality. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the server handles sensitive user data or provides administrative access to systems. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader application security practices and ensure that similar flaws are not present in other components of the application stack.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing and ensuring that any dynamic content is properly escaped or encoded before being rendered in web responses. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation for both template and language inputs, rejecting or sanitizing any input that contains potentially dangerous characters or patterns. Additionally, the implementation of content security policies and proper HTTP headers can help reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this flaw demonstrates a pattern of inadequate input handling that may exist elsewhere in the codebase. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.