CVE-2005-0085 in Mandrake Linux Corporate Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ht://dig (htdig) before 3.1.6-r7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script or HTML via the config parameter, which is not properly sanitized before it is displayed in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2019
The CVE-2005-0085 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the ht://dig web search engine software, which was widely used for indexing and searching web content in the early 2000s. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of user input within error message contexts, specifically when processing the config parameter. The ht://dig application, which functioned as a web-based search engine for local web content, failed to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into error messages displayed to users. This omission created a direct pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the application's error reporting mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious config parameter containing script code and submits it to the ht://dig application. When the application encounters an error related to this parameter, it displays the unsanitized input directly within the error message without proper HTML escaping or encoding. This failure to implement input validation and output sanitization creates a persistent XSS vector where the injected scripts execute within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the victim's browser environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the search interface, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that ht://dig was often deployed in enterprise environments for internal web searching, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise sensitive information or escalate privileges within the organization's web infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and availability, as malicious scripts could potentially disrupt normal operation or cause the application to behave unpredictably.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve implementing proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The most effective approach is to ensure that all user-supplied input is properly escaped or encoded before being displayed in any web context, particularly error messages. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and T1566.001 for "Phishing" as attackers could use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, maintain up-to-date software versions, and conduct regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017's A03:2017 - Injection, which emphasizes that proper sanitization of user input is fundamental to preventing XSS attacks.