CVE-2005-0040 in DotNetNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in DotNetNuke before 3.0.12 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) register a new user page, (2) User-Agent, or (3) Username, which is not properly quoted before sending to the error log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0040 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting DotNetNuke content management systems prior to version 3.0.12. This weakness manifests across multiple attack vectors including the user registration page, User-Agent header processing, and username parameter handling, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper output encoding practices that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before it is processed and potentially logged or displayed back to users. The specific technical flaw occurs when user input is not properly quoted or escaped before being written to error logs, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the browsers of other users who encounter these logged entries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input sanitization can lead to persistent XSS attacks. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users with the privileges of the affected accounts. The attack vectors demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how web applications handle user data flows through different components, particularly highlighting the dangerous intersection between user input processing and error logging mechanisms. When attackers exploit the User-Agent vector, they can leverage the fact that web servers often log this header information, creating a persistent XSS scenario where malicious scripts are stored in the application's error logs and executed whenever these logs are viewed. The username-based attack vector further compounds the risk by targeting the registration process itself, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious code during user account creation or when user names are processed in error conditions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers Exploit Public-Facing Application, and demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become attack vectors when proper security controls are absent. The remediation approach requires implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before it enters the application's processing pipeline or is stored in logs. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers, utilize parameterized queries for database operations, and ensure that all user input undergoes proper escaping before being displayed or logged. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in web application frameworks. The specific version constraint of 3.0.12 indicates that this was a known issue that required a targeted patch, emphasizing the need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security configurations and promptly apply vendor security updates to protect against established attack patterns.