CVE-2004-2624 in Wackowiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in "TextSearch" in WackoWiki 3.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "phrase" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The CVE-2004-2624 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the WackoWiki 3.5 content management system, specifically affecting the TextSearch functionality. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the "phrase" parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions and data within the wiki environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The TextSearch feature in WackoWiki 3.5 fails to implement proper input sanitization when processing the "phrase" parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code. When the vulnerable search functionality processes user input, the malicious code gets embedded directly into the web page output, executing in the browser context of any user who views the search results or interacts with the affected page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the wiki environment. Attackers could craft malicious search phrases that, when processed by the vulnerable TextSearch function, would execute in the browsers of other users who view the results. This could lead to unauthorized access to wiki content, modification of pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared content, as it can compromise the trust relationships between users and the wiki system itself.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering through malicious web content and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects any user who can perform searches within the wiki, and the exploitation requires minimal technical skill. Organizations using WackoWiki 3.5 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in search functions, and ensuring that all output is properly encoded to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, implementing a content security policy and regular security audits of web applications can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments.